11.5.3

Reactions of Alkenes

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Alkanes and Alkenes

Alkanes and alkenes are hydrocarbons extracted from crude oil through fractional distillation.

Structure

Structure

  • In alkanes, carbon atoms bond to four other atoms (hydrogen or carbon) by single bonds and are saturated.
    • The general formula for alkanes is CnH(2n+2).
  • Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons because they contain a double bond between two of their carbon atoms (C=C).
    • They have the general formula CnH2n.
Uses

Uses

  • Alkanes are quite unreactive but can burn well, making them useful fuels.
  • Alkenes can be used to make plastics (polymers) and can undergo addition reactions to make new compounds.
Reactions

Reactions

  • Alkanes undergo complete combustion when there is sufficient oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. If there is insufficient oxygen toxic carbon monoxide is produced.
  • Alkenes can react with hydrogen to produce alkanes, steam (water) to produce alcohols, halogens to produce halogenoalkanes, and oxygen to burn in combustion.
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1

States of Matter

2

Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3

Stoichometry

4

Electrochemistry

5

Chemical Energetics

6

Chemical Reactions

7

Acids, Bases & Salts

8

The Periodic Table

9

Metals

10

Chemistry of the Environment

11

Organic Chemistry

11.1

Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2

Naming Organic Compounds

11.3

Fuels

11.4

Alkanes

11.5

Alkenes

11.6

Alcohols

11.7

Carboxylic Acids

11.8

Polymers

12

Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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