Cracking hydrocarbons in liquid paraffin with a catalyst

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A photograph showing the outside of an industrial furnace and heat exchanger, used in the cracking of hydrocarbons

Source: © Shutterstock

Model the industrial process of cracking larger hydrocarbons to produce smaller alkanes in this demonstration or class practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Cracking the vapour of liquid paraffin over a heated catalyst produces a mixture of gaseous short-chain hydrocarbons, which can be collected and tested for unsaturation with bromine water in this experiment. 

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