Crude oil is separated into several different fractions

using fractional ……………….. This separates …………………

molecules by their size. ……………. molecules have lower
boiling points and are collected nearer the top of the
fractionating ……………. These small hydrocarbons make
excellent …………….. Large hydrocarbon molecules have
……………… boiling points and are collected nearer the
bottom of the fractionating column. These are less
useful because they do not burn very well and so do
not make good fuels. …………………… is a process used to
break these large hydrocarbons down into smaller
molecules so that we can use them as fuels.

small, higher, cracking, fuels,

column, distillation, hydrocarbon
Crude oil is separated into several different fractions
hydrocarbon
distillation This separates …………………
using fractional ………………..
Small molecules have lower
molecules by their size. …………….
boiling points and are collected nearer the top of the
column These small hydrocarbons make
fractionating …………….
fuels Large hydrocarbon molecules have
excellent ……………..
higher boiling points and are collected nearer the
………………
bottom of the fractionating column. These are less
useful because they do not burn very well and so do
Cracking is a process used to
not make good fuels. ……………………
break these large hydrocarbons down into smaller
molecules so that we can use them as fuels.

small, higher, cracking, fuels,

column, distillation, hydrocarbon
L.O. I can explain how we make
small useful hydrocarbons from
big ‘useless’ ones.
I can describe / compare
alkanes and alkenes.
I can justify why
cracking is a vital
chemical process.
If nobody knew about
cracking…how would I
have got to school today?

What would we use

instead of plastic?
We can get loads of fuel
from crude oil by collecting
the smaller hydrocarbons
using fractional distillation.
But there are loads of the
bigger hydrocarbons left…
if only we could make
them more useful!
Well done lad! We can use
a process called CRACKING!
We heat the big alkane until
it breaks into two pieces…
there must be another
name for that?

Thermal
D e com p osi ti on
But what are the two
pieces? Are they the
same?
No…one is still an alkane
(but a shorter one!) and
the other is an alkene. It
has a carbon-carbon
double bond and is an
unsaturated hydrocarbon.
For example:

C10H22 C8H18 + C2H4

 Decane

Octane Ethene
Or

C10H22 C7H16 + C3H6

 Decane

Heptane Propene
Or

C10H22 C6H14 + C4H8

 Decane

Hexane Butene
So alkanes are saturated
and alkenes are
unsaturated. Didn’t
alkanes have the formula
CnH(2n+2)?

Ye s a n d a l ke n es
have the
formula CnH2n
What was the bromine
water for?

It reacts with
unsaturated
n d s a n d goe s
compou
colourless.
What was the aluminium
oxide for?

T h at ’s a C A T A L Y S T
R ! ) . I t h e l ps t h e
(GRRR
rea c ti o n t o w o r k.
What can we use the
products of cracking for?

al l er a l k a n e s
The sm
o o d f u e l s. T h e
make g
s c a n b e u se d to
alkene
m ake p o l y m e r s a n d
e f u l c h e m i c a l s
other us
What products can you
make?

Octane
Say it with Wallace…
If nobody knew about
cracking…how would I
have got to school today?

What would we use

instead of plastic?
1 2 3
A molecule was What is a What is the
cracked to make hydrocarbon?

1 2 3
molecular formula of
ethene and propane. octene?
What was the
molecule?

4 5 6 What is the
If heptene was A molecule of octane
cracked to make a molecular formula of

6
was cracked to make

4 5
molecule of propene ethene?
ethene and which
what would the other other hydrocarbon?
molecule be?

7 Give a pair of 8 How many hydrogens 9 What is the general

possible products does octane have? formula of

8 7 9
when a molecule of a) An alkane
b) An alkene
nonane (C9H20) is
cracked?
1 2 3
Name 2 useful What is a What is a catalyst?
substances from hydrocarbon?

1
crude oil

2 3
4 5 6 What is the main use
Why do we need to Draw Ethene
crack hydrocarbons? of alkenes such as

4 5 6
ethene?

7 What does this 8 How many carbons 9

What is the difference
picture show? does octane have? between an alkane and

7 8 9
an alkene?
L.O. I can explain how we make
small useful hydrocarbons from big
‘useless’ ones.
I can describe / compare alkanes
and alkenes.
I can justify why
cracking is a vital
chemical process.
 Where is your learning going?

New learning I already knew Questions I

need to ask
Match the word to the definition
Describes a molecule that could
Distillation react with more hydrogen.
A positive test result for reaction
Polymerisation of an alkene with bromine water.
Used to separate liquids with
Unsaturated
different boiling points.
A hydrocarbon with the formula
Colourless
C3H8
Made when four electrons are
Ethene shared between two atoms
A reaction where many monomer
Cracking
units react to form a polymer.
A hydrocarbon with the formula
Propane C2H4
A thermal decomposition reaction
Double bond that breaks hydrocarbons down.
Match the word to the definition
a hydrocarbon with the formula
decane
CnH2n
a hydrocarbon that contains a
alkene double bond.
unsaturated
an alkane with the formula C10H22
molecule

pentane an alkene with three carbon atoms

a bond in which four electrons are

ethene shared between two atoms

alkane an alkane with five carbon atoms

propene an alkene with the formula C2H4

a hydrocarbon where every bond

double bond between atoms is a single bond
We are going to do a couple
of tests on the gas we trap.
1. See if it is flammable.
2. See if it turns bromine
water colourless.
 A: Boiling tube, paraffin,
ceramic wool, Al2O3, spatula.
B: Delivery tube with bung,
Bunsen valve, Bunsen
Burner, Heatproof Mat.
C: 2 test-tubes and rack, Dog
dish, Bromine water, splint.
You’ll also need a clamp and
stand. Make sure when you
finish heating you lift the
Bunsen valve clear of the
water!!!
 Aluminium Oxide
Catalyst

Delivery Ethene
Tube
Large Boiling Tube H
Hydrocarbon
H
 Complete the missing boxes:
Label the cracking contraption:
ALKENE
Saturated
CnH2n
No C=C bonds 1 C=C bond

Name these compounds:

C4H10 ………………………………
C6H12 ………………………………
C2H6 ………………………………
Large hydrocarbon molecules are C8H16 ………………………………
broken down by ………………. them and
Draw a pair of possible alkane/alkene
passing them over a hot …………… This
products from the cracking of octane C8H18.
is called ………………. Some of the
molecules produced when we do this
contain a ……………….. bond. They are
called ………………….. hydrocarbons.
They are examples of a group of
hydrocarbons called the ………………….
Word bank: alkenes, catalyst, cracking,
double, heating, unsaturated.
 Name Structural formula Molecular
formula

Hint: Cracking is an example of this reaction

Ans……………………………………………………………
Propane

Pentene

SMOTHERED COMPILATION
C4H10

Solve this anagram:

Hexane

Ethene

C4H8

Gromit’s Detective Agency: How can I test a

hydrocarbon to see if it is an alkane or an alkene?
………………………………………………… Complete these cracking equations:
…………………………………………………
………………………………………………… C10H22 C6H14 + ……………….
…………………………………………………
C H ……………..... + C H
What are these items from last
lesson’s experiment?
TREATS BUCKET TEST TUBE RACK
RAINBOW METRE BROMINE WATER
NUNS BURN BEER BUNSEN BURNER
HORNY CRAB DO HYDROCARBON
HOT TEMPO AFAR HEATPROOF MAT
Crude oil is separated into several different fractions
using fractional ……………….. This separates …………………
molecules by their size. ……………. molecules have lower
boiling points and are collected nearer the top of the
fractionating ……………. These small hydrocarbons make
excellent …………….. Large hydrocarbon molecules have
……………… boiling points and are collected nearer the
bottom of the fractionating column. These are less
useful because they do not burn very well and so do
not make good fuels. …………………… is a process used to
break these large hydrocarbons down into smaller
molecules so that we can use them as fuels.

small, higher, cracking, fuels,

column, distillation, hydrocarbon
1 2 3
Name 2 useful What is a What is a catalyst?
substances from hydrocarbon?
crude oil

4 5 6 What is the main use

Why do we need to Draw Ethene
crack hydrocarbons? of alkenes such as
ethene?

7 What does this 8 How many carbons 9

What is the difference
picture show? does octane have? between an alkane and
an alkene?