(a) Cracking
The process of breaking higher hydrocarbons with high boiling points into a variety of lower hydrocarbons that are more volatile (low boiling), is called cracking (or pyrolysis). For example, a higher hydrocarbon C10H22 splits according to the reaction.
\(C_{10}H_{22}\xrightarrow{heat\,770K}C_8H_{18}+C_2H_4\)
The process of cracking or pyrolysis increases the relative amounts of the lower hydrocarbons, which exists in a gaseous state, while higher hydrocarbons exist in the liquid or solid state.
