CRACKING

Cracking

In petroleum geology and chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as kerogens or heavy hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons, by the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of catalysts. Cracking is the breakdown of a large alkane into smaller, more useful alkanes and alkenes. Simply put, hydrocarbon cracking is the process of breaking a long-chain of hydrocarbons into short ones.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Cracking (chemistry)
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cracking

Noun

  1. The thermal decomposition of a substance, especially that of crude petroleum in order to produce petrol / gasoline.
  2. The formation of cracks on a surface

Verb

cracking

Adjective

  1. Great
    The race started at a cracking pace.
  2. Enjoyable.
    We had a cracking time.

Adverb

  1. Very, usually associated with praise.
    It was a cracking good show.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: cracking
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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