What is a major product of cracking alkanes?

Cracking alkanes is a process commonly used in the petrochemical industry to break down larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful ones. A major product of this process is liquid fuels, which include compounds like gasoline (petrol) that are important for powering vehicles and other machinery.

During cracking, larger alkanes are broken into shorter-chain hydrocarbons; these shorter molecules are often more volatile and can be efficiently used as fuels. Liquid fuels are highly desirable because they are easier to transport and combust compared to heavier molecules like those present in solid fuels or heavy oils, which are less efficient for many applications.

While natural gas may also be produced during the cracking process, the primary focus here is on the liquid fuels, which have a broader range of applications in energy production and transport. Solid fuels and heavy oils represent different types of compounds that do not align with the primary outcomes of the cracking process. Thus, the major product of interest from cracking alkanes is indeed liquid fuels, highlighting the efficiency and versatility of the process in generating usable energy sources.