Matter and sustainability

Activity – Chemical properties of alkanes and alkenes

Name: _____________________________________________

ID:_________________________

1. According to the following structures, indicate what is oxidation and what is reduction in organic chemistry
writing the words “oxygen” or “hydrogen” as appropriate.
Most reduced Most oxidized

H OH
O O

C C O C O
H H C C
H H
H H H OH carbon dioxide
H H
methane methanol methanal methanoic acid
(formaldehyde) (formic acid)

Oxidation is:
• the increase in the number of bonds between carbon and ________________
• or, the decrease in the number of bonds between carbon and ________________
Reduction is:
• the increase in the number of bonds between carbon and ________________
• or, the decrease in the number of bonds between carbon and ________________

2. From the following pair of compounds, write in the line below each structure “more oxidized” or “more
reduced” to indicate the comparative degree of oxidation/reduction between them.
A B
HO
OH
O OH

OH

D
C CH
C CH3 CH CH3
CH CH2 CH
CH3 CH3
C C
CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3
 Matter and sustainability
3. Identify the following reactions as addition, elimination, or substitution.
Reaction Type of reaction
A

Acid
OH + H 2O
catalyst

Cl

B
hν + HCl
+ Cl2

C
Pt
+ H2

4. Predict the main products that result from the following reactions. Also, write the names of each organic
reactant and each organic product below its corresponding structure.
A
hν
+ Cl2

+ light
Br2

H
C
hν
H C Cl + F2

H
 Matter and sustainability
5. Predict the major products of the following reactions. Name the obtained organic product. Name the type
of reaction as: hydrogenation, halogenation, hydration, hydrohalogenation. (When present, the catalyst
is indicated after the “/” above the arrow)

F2

H2O/H+ H2/Pt

2-cyclobuylbut-2-ene

HI

6. Suggest structures for alkenes that give the following reaction products. There could be more than one
answer for some cases.
Br
A
Br2

Br

B
HCl

Cl
 Matter and sustainability
C OH
+
H2O/H

7. 1-ethylcyclopent-1-ene is hydrogenated in the presence of platinum as catalyst. Its product reacts with
chlorine using ultraviolet light to finally produce 1-chloro-1-ethylcyclopentane. Write down the whole
process as two consecutive reactions including the intermediate product.