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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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