Fractional distillation is used to separate crude oil into fractions - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2012 - Paper 1

Cracking is a chemical process used to break down larger hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil into shorter, more useful ones, typically for producing alkenes or lighter hydrocarbons. This process can occur through thermal cracking, which uses high heat, or catalytic cracking, which utilizes a catalyst to lower the temperature needed for the reaction. Cracking is essential for increasing the yield of valuable products like gasoline and alkenes, which are important for various chemical reactions.