The process that illustrates reformation of petroleum product is

Answer Details

Reforming is a petroleum refinery process that rearranges the molecular structure of hydrocarbons to produce higher-octane fuels and aromatic compounds. The most common type is catalytic reforming, which converts naphthenes (cycloalkanes) and straight-chain alkanes into aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, typically using a platinum-based catalyst at high temperature.

The conversion of cyclohexane to benzene is a classic example of reforming. In this reaction, cyclohexane (C₆H₁₂) undergoes catalytic dehydrogenation, losing three molecules of hydrogen to form benzene (C₆H₆):

\[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12} \xrightarrow{\text{Pt catalyst, heat}} \text{C}_6\text{H}_6 + 3\text{H}_2 \]

This aromatization reaction increases the octane rating of the fuel fraction and produces valuable aromatic feedstocks for the chemical industry.

The other options describe different processes:

• Converting hexene to hexane is hydrogenation (addition of hydrogen across a double bond).
• Converting hexane to carbon(IV) oxide and water vapour is combustion (burning in oxygen).
• Converting hexane to butane and ethane is cracking (breaking larger molecules into smaller ones).