What does the chemical equation C₁₀H₂₂ -> C₂H₄ + C₈H₁₈ represent?

The chemical equation C₁₀H₂₂ -> C₂H₄ + C₈H₁₈ represents the cracking of decane, which is an important chemical process in the petroleum industry. Cracking involves breaking down larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful ones. In this case, decane (C₁₀H₂₂) is being broken down into ethene (C₂H₄), which is a valuable building block for producing various plastics and synthetic materials, and octane (C₈H₁₈), which is a key component of gasoline.

The process of cracking typically requires heat and sometimes the presence of a catalyst, allowing complex hydrocarbons to yield simpler forms that can be more readily used in fuels and chemical synthesis. This reaction exemplifies the conversion of a saturated hydrocarbon (alkane) into both an alkene and another alkane, demonstrating the principle of hydrocarbon rearrangement and the production of higher-value products from raw petroleum.