analyse a given synthetic route in terms of type of reaction and reagents used for each step of it, and possible by-products

recall the reactions (reagents and conditions) by which alkanes can be produced: (a) addition of hydrogen to an alkene in a hydrogenation reaction, \( H_2(g) \) and Pt/Ni catalyst and heat (b) cracking of a longer chain alkane, heat with \( Al_2O_3 \)