Organic chemistry

Alkenes
Todays lesson
Alkanes vs Alkenes
Alkanes Alkenes

Single bonds between all carbons Contain a double bond between a pair of carbons

Fully saturated with hydrogens Unsaturated with hydrogens

Formula = CnH2n+2 Formula = CnH2n

Names ending in -ane Names ending in -ene

Used as fuels (burnt/combusted) Used to make plastics and other useful chemicals
such as pharmaceuticals
Alkenes = CnH2n
Amount of carbons in chain Prefix Name of alkene

1 Meth NOT POSSIBLE

2 Eth Ethene

3 Prop Propene

4 But Butene

5 Pent Pentene

6 Hex Hexene
Formula
Amount of carbons in chain Name of alkene Formula (CnH2n)

1 - -

2 Ethene
C2H4

3 Propene C3H6

4 Butene
C4H8

5 Pentene C5H10

6 Hexene C6H12
Drawing

H H H H
H C C C C
H H H
Alkene Structural display formula Alkene Structural display formula

Ethene Pentene

Propene

Hexene

Butene
How can we tell the difference between alkanes and
alkenes?
We can add bromine water. Bromine
water is an orange/brown colour.

Alkenes are more reactive so will

react with the bromine water. They
remove the colour so the solution is
colourless
Triple only from now on
Trilogy students can stop watching now
Triple only content
Combustion - reminder
Alkenes burn with a smokey flame as they burn with incomplete combustion

They produce carbon monoxide, carbon particulates (soot) and water.

Addition reactions
Alkenes contain a double bond - this means there is ‘space’ for more atoms to be
added to them.

Alkenes can have different atoms added to them (to saturate them) - you are
expected to know about three possible additions and what the products would be
for the first 4 alkenes.

The way this happens is the same for all of the alkenes no matter how long the
carbon chain length
Hydrogen addition
Water addition
Halogen addition