Alkenes
Chemistry: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 11.5.1
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:
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.
Formula
- A homologous series is a series of compounds with the same general formula.
- Alkenes are a homologous series with the general formula CnH2n.
How reactive are alkenes?
- The presence of the C=C functional group means that alkenes have greater reactivity than alkanes.
Test yourself on Alkenes
Properties of Alkenes
Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?
Properties of alkenes