A chemical reaction can be defined as a reaction in which two or more atoms of a chemical element react to form a chemical compound. An example of a chemical reaction involving hydrocarbons is cracking.
Hydrocarbon can be defined as an organic compound that comprises of hydrogen and carbon only.
In Organic chemistry, cracking refers to the process of lowering the boiling point of a heavy, complex or long-chain hydrocarbon such as kerogens by exposing it to different environmental treatments such as hydrogen enriched catalysts, pressure or high temperatures, in order to produce smaller, lighter and more useful molecules (alkanes and alkenes) such as gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.
