Classic chemistry experiments

96.

247

Cracking hydrocarbons

Topic
Oil, petroleum industry, polymerisation, chemistry of alcohols.

Timing
60 min.

Description
The molecules to be cracked are vaporised and passed over a heated catalyst. The gas
produced is collected over water. This experiment is a good test of manipulative skill
and observation.

Apparatus and equipment (per group)

Hard glass test-tube or boiling tube
Delivery tube with bung to fit this tube
Bunsen valve
Trough or bowl
Three test-tubes with bungs to collect gas.

Chemicals (per group)

One of: liquid paraffin, decane, polythene (polyethene), ethanol (Highly flammable)
Mineral wool
Aluminium oxide granules (or broken porcelain chips)
3

Bromine water 0.04 mol dm

(Harmful, irritant)

Teaching tips
Use of a Bunsen valve:
Glass bead

Glass tube

Rubber tube with slit in it

Gas can pass through the slit from the inside but if the pressure drops inside the sides
of the slit are pushed together.
Even with a Bunsen valve, suck back may happen. Students should be told to lift the
stand to raise the delivery tube out of the water at the end of the experiment. Teachers
should check the students apparatus for blockages caused by melted bungs or catalyst
blocking the delivery tube out of the test-tube, since explosions can occur.

Background theory
Students need to know the arrangement of the molecules in the reactant and
understand that the catalyst speeds up the reaction. Knowledge of the properties of
alkenes is not necessary before the reaction.

Safety
Wear eye protection.
1,2-Dibromoethane is harmful, but very little forms.

248

Classic chemistry experiments

Cracking hydrocarbons
Introduction
The demand for petrol is greater than the amount produced by distilling crude oil. The
cracking of hydrocarbons also produces molecules which can be converted into petrol.
This experiment models the industrial cracking process.
Boiling tube

Delivery tube
Test-tube

HEAT
Clamp
Porcelain chips

Water
Mineral wool soaked in
hydrocarbon oil

Bunsen
valve
Trough of
water

What to record
Record:
1. The appearance of the original oil and the gas.
2. Whether the oil and gas burn.
3. Whether the oil and gas smell.
4. The effect of the oil and the gas on aqueous bromine water.
5. A table may be helpful.

What to do
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram. Fill four test-tubes with water and
invert them in the trough.
2. Strongly heat the catalyst (porcelain chips) for a few minutes.
3. Now flick the flame onto the end of the tube containing the mineral wool and the
oil. Try to produce a steady stream of bubbles.
4. Collect tubes of the gas. Discard the first one, which will be mainly air.
5. Stopper the three tubes of gas and test them as follows
(a) What do they look like?
(b) What do they smell like (care)?
(c) Use a lighted splint to see if they burn.
(d) Add two drops of aqueous bromine and shake.

Safety
Wear eye protection.
Be careful to avoid the water in the trough sucking back. When heating stops lift the
apparatus out of the water using the stand.
Make sure the apparatus is not blocked. If no gas appears check the bung has not
melted and that the catalyst has not blocked the delivery tube.
Aqueous bromine water is harmful and irritant.