Could you explain more clearly how the reforming of alkanes to cycloalkanes actuallly works?
Ulex says … It works by a kind of sympathetic magic! The alkane molecule is split into shorter lengths, each length being a free radical. These free radicals then link up in a number of different ways to give new alkane molecules, some of which are cyclic. By appropriate choice of conditions and catalyst, the proportion of cyclohexane in the mixture can be maximised. I strongly suspect that the choice of conditions is arrived at empirically i.e. by finding out by trial and error what actually works and settling for that! Always carry out a risk assessment and check with your teacher before starting any practical work. Risk assessment Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is sa
