Gas cracker

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A gas cracker is any device that splits the molecules in a gas or liquid, usually by electrolysis, into atoms. The end product is usually a gas. A hydrocracker is an example of a gas cracker. In nature, molecules are split often, such as in food digestion and microbial digestion activity. A gas cracker device splits the molecule at a rate much greater than that normally found in nature. In science and industry, gas crackers are used to separate two or more elements in a molecule. For example, liquid water, or H₂O, is separated into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Pure elemental gases can be placed into separate tanks and sold, such as a tank of hydrogen, helium, or oxygen gas.

This is not to be confused with the splitting of the atom (atomic power) or nucleus (nuclear power).