# Explain why cracking is an important industrial process for the petrochemical industry.

> OCR GCSE Chemistry A: Gateway Science (J248) — C6.2 Organic chemistry · Explain · 4 marks

> Crude oil is separated by fractional distillation into fractions. However, the supply and demand of these fractions does not always match. Cracking is used to help solve this problem.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Cracking breaks down larger/longer-chain hydrocarbons into smaller/shorter-chain hydrocarbons
2. There is greater demand for shorter-chain hydrocarbons (such as fuels) than for longer-chain fractions
3. Cracking produces alkenes, which are used as monomers to make polymers
4. Cracking can be carried out by catalytic cracking (using a hot aluminium oxide catalyst) or by steam cracking

## Key terms

- [cracking](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/cracking)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Chemistry A: Gateway Science (J248)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-cracking-is-an-important-83f7abd2) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.