Matching apparatus to hydrocarbon cracking process

Steps:

• Identify apparatus features: likely a heated tube with catalyst for decomposing liquid X (paraffin).
• Recall process requirements: cracking needs high temperature and catalyst to break C-C bonds in alkanes.
• Compare options: oxidation and dehydration involve specific reagents; cracking fits thermal setup.
• Confirm match: apparatus demonstrates gas/liquid products from paraffin decomposition.

Why C is correct:

• Cracking is thermal decomposition of long-chain hydrocarbons like paraffin (C_nH_{2n+2}) into shorter alkenes/alkanes, e.g., C_{16}H_{34} → C_8H_{18} + C_8H_{16}, using heated catalyst tubes.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Oxidation of ethanol requires an oxidizing agent like KMnO_4, not just heating.
• B: Dehydration of ethanol needs concentrated H_2SO_4 as catalyst, absent in basic heating setup.
• D: Insufficient details provided for evaluation.

Final answer: C