What evidence shows that the large molecules in the petroleum jelly have been broken down into small molecules?

Given that C20H42, a compound present in petroleum, is broken down to C18H38 and another compound.Please explain why as well.

nan

Being a Civil Engineer I am telling you that SKY IS YOUR LIMIT

Small molecules will tend to be more liquid at room temp vs large moleculesThey will also evaporate more easily so you may be able to smell them moreThere will be differences in solubility alsoBesides the above measurements, there are many ways to measure the exact amount of change with instruments such as gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, liquid chromatography, and moreHow and why they break down depends on what has been done to the original materialI would need more infoEdit- for your additional info: The gas collected could consist of methane and ethaneIt would have been formed by carbons being broken off of the large moleculesAlso, the liquid on the water surface would be low molecular weight (low boiling) hydrocarbons formed from the breakage of the large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller fragmentsBoth of these products were formed by the action of heat and catalyzed by the presence of the aluminum oxide.