In what year was the process of thermal cracking discovered?

In what year was the process of thermal cracking discovered?

• A. 1890
• B. 1909
• C. 1920
• D. 1914

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is when scientists first learned that heating large hydrocarbon molecules could break them into lighter, more useful fuels. Thermal cracking works by exposing heavy oil fractions to high temperatures, which causes the long molecules to crack into shorter ones like gasoline-range hydrocarbons. This breakthrough arose in the early 1900s, with around 1909 commonly cited as the first demonstration that heating heavy fractions could produce lighter fuels and increase refinery yields. This set the stage for more advanced refining methods, including catalytic cracking developed later to achieve similar cracking at lower temperatures and with greater efficiency.

The idea being tested is when scientists first learned that heating large hydrocarbon molecules could break them into lighter, more useful fuels. Thermal cracking works by exposing heavy oil fractions to high temperatures, which causes the long molecules to crack into shorter ones like gasoline-range hydrocarbons. This breakthrough arose in the early 1900s, with around 1909 commonly cited as the first demonstration that heating heavy fractions could produce lighter fuels and increase refinery yields. This set the stage for more advanced refining methods, including catalytic cracking developed later to achieve similar cracking at lower temperatures and with greater efficiency.