Question

Which of the following process is used to convert the mixture of saturated hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum into a more reactive material?

(a) Hydrogenation

(b) Acidification

(c) Alkylation

(d) Chlorination

This question was addressed to me in an interview.

This is a very interesting question from Petrochemicals topic in portion Fuels and Combustion of Engineering Chemistry II

Answer 1

The correct choice is (d) Chlorination

For explanation: The petroleum feed stock obtained from the distillation has to be converted to more reactive starting material with the help of suitable conversion processes such as chlorination, controlled oxidation, cracking, catalytic reforming, catalytic dehydrogenation etc.