[mattg2006]

Why do oil companies reform and isomerise hexane and other hydrocarbons?

Thanks

[Will]

Hexane can be reformed to benzene (at 500^oC, 40atm using Al₂O₃ catalyst). Benzene is a relatively valuable hydrocarbon, so it is economical to do this reaction, even though benzene can be extracted from coal (destructive distillation to coal tar and fractional distillation) and made by the polymerisation of ethyne.

The reason oil compainies do reforming, alkylation, cracking and platforming (using platinum as catalyst, often allowing lower pressures to be used) is because they produce hydrocarbons with a higher value/quality.

Hope this answers your question !

[mattg2006]

Yes, that does answer my question. I don't think I covered it in class though, which is why I didnt know how to answer it.

Thankyou very much.