Thermal cracking of alkanes usually

A.

is an exothermic process

B.

produces only small alkanes

C.

involves decomposition

D.

requires hydrogen

Correct answer is C

Thermal cracking is a process used in the petroleum industry to break down long-chain alkanes (hydrocarbons) into smaller, more useful hydrocarbons. It involves the decomposition of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, such as heavy crude oil fractions or long-chain alkanes, into lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, like smaller alkanes and alkenes. During thermal cracking, high temperatures and sometimes pressure are applied to the feedstock (such as crude oil or natural gas) to initiate the decomposition reactions.