A scientist researching methods to convert used motor oil into gasoline would most likely be investigating which process?

a. joining molecules into longer chainsB. breaking molecules into smaller chainsC. changing straight chains into ringsD. changing rings into straight chains

Answer is: B. breaking molecules into smaller chains.

Gasoline consists of hydrocarbons with between four and twenty carbon atoms (4-20 C atoms) and motor oil consists of hydrocarbons with between 18 and 34 carbon atoms per molecule, so gasoline has smaller chains than motor oil.

Gasoline is a mixture of many different hydrocarbons: alkanes (paraffins), cycloalkanes and alkenes (olefins).

Most motor oils are made from a heavier, thicker petroleum hydrocarbons.

I think the correct answer from the choices listed above is option B. A scientist researching methods to convert used motor oil into gasoline. Most likely he would be investigating breaking molecules into smaller chains since gasoline contains organic substances that has smaller chains. Hope this answers the question.