15.2.5

Structure of Alkenes

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Alkenes

Alkenes are hydrocarbons with the functional group C=C. This means that alkenes have a carbon-carbon double bond. The names of alkenes all end in -ene. Alkenes have these features:

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Unsaturated

  • Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons because they contain a double bond between two of their carbon atoms (C=C).
  • This means that an alkane and alkene with the same length of carbon chain will have different numbers of hydrogen atoms - the alkane will have two more hydrogen atoms.
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Formula

  • A homologous series is a series of compounds with the same general formula.
  • Alkenes are a homologous series with the general formula CnH2n.
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How reactive are alkenes?

  • The presence of the C=C functional group means that alkenes have greater reactivity than alkanes.

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1States of Matter

2Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

3Atomic Structure

4The Periodic Table

5Chemical Formulae, Equations & Calculations

6Bonding

7Electrolysis

8Groups of the Periodic Table

9The Atmosphere

10Reactivity Series

11Metal Extraction

12Acids & Alkalis

13Chemical Tests

14Physical Chemistry

15Organic Chemistry

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