Alkanes are widely used as fuels in combustion engines. Give an equation for the complete combustion of nonane ($C_9{H}_{20}$) in an excess of oxygen.

Heptane can be obtained from the catalytic cracking of tetradecane ($C_{14}{H}_{30}$) at a high temperature.

• Identify a suitable catalyst for this process.
• Give one condition other than high temperature.
• Give an equation for the catalytic cracking of one molecule of tetradecane to produce one molecule of heptane, one molecule of cyclopentane, and one other product.

Alkanes can undergo free-radical substitution reactions to form halogenoalkanes. Give equations for the propagation steps in the reaction of butane to form 2-chlorobutane.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are haloalkanes that are highly stable in the lower atmosphere but undergo decomposition in the stratosphere. The structure of a specific CFC is shown below:

Draw on this

• Identify the radical produced from this CFC that is responsible for the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere.
• Explain, with the aid of equations, why a single radical of this type can cause the decomposition of many molecules of ozone.