ALKENES

• Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons containing carbon-carbon double bond (C═C)in their molecules.
• Suffix=ENE
• They have the general formula C H
n 2n
• The simplest member of alkene family is ethene, C H .
2 4
• The alkenes are also called olefins (Greek olefiant meaning oil forming) because the larger member of the series
(such as ethylene, propylene, etc react with chlorine to form oily products.
• In the carbon-carbon double bond, two pairs of electrons are shared, leaving the carbon free to bond to two
other things.
COMPARING ALKENES WITH ALKANES

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ALKENES

1. SOLUBILITY
insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents
2. ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
cannot conduct electricity since there are no free moving ions
3. MELTING AND BOILING POINTS
Low
4. DENSITY
less dense than water, floats in water

NOTE: When the number of carbon atoms increases :

 The physical properties increase
 The molecules get bigger and the molecular mass increase. So then, the densities of the alkenes
increase
 The molecules get bigger and the intermolecular force of attraction becomes stronger. More energy
is needed to overcome the strong forces of attraction. The melting and boiling point increase.

Chemical properties of alkenes

1. Combustion Reactions
Alkenes burn with a SMOKIER flame than alkanes with a similar number of carbon atoms. (Due to the
relatively higher percentages of carbon in alkenes)

C H + 3O  2CO + 2H O = ethene + 3 molecules of oxide = 2 molecules of water and 2

2 4 2 2 2
molecules of carbon dioxide
2. Addition Reactions
 Why do alkenes undergo addition reactions?
Because the Carbon-carbon double bonds in alkenes are reactive.

Unsaturated hydrocarbon saturated hydrocarbon

In an addition reaction, carbon-carbon double bonds become single bonds. This means that an unsaturated
hydrocarbon becomes a saturated organic compound.

Reaction with ethene Reaction Conditions Equation (Write it yourself)

Bromination H H H H
- C C + Br2 HC C H
(Addition of bromine)
H H Br Br
200 °C, nickel catalyst
H H H H
Hydrogenation C C + H2 HC C
H H H H
(Addition of hydrogen)

phosphoric(V) acid catalyst, H H H H

300 H atm
H °C, 60 C=C + H-O-H C-C
Hydration H OH H H
(Addition of steam)

Bromination
• Used to test for the presence of an alkene or unsaturation.

If an alkene or unsaturation is present, bromine solution will be rapidly decolorized

Naming Alkenes
RULE 1. Select the longest continuous carbon chain that contains a double bond.

This chain This chain

contains 6 contains 8

carbon atoms carbon atoms

RULE 2. Name this compound as you would an alkane, but change –ane to –ene for an alkene.

This chain Name the

contains 8 parent
compound
OCTENE
carbon atoms
RULE 3. Number the carbon chain of the parent compound starting with the end nearer to the double bond.
Use the smaller of the two numbers on the double-bonded carbon to indicate the position of the double bond.
Place this number in front of the alkene name.
4 3 2 1
This end of the
5 chain is closest
1-octene/ octene 6 to the double
bond. Begin
 1-hexene/ hexene 3-octene/ oct-3-ene
C=C–C–C–C–C C–C–C=C–C–C–C–C–C
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

RULE 4. Branched chains and other groups are treated as in naming alkanes. Name the substituent group, and
designate its position on the parent chain with a number.

Ethyl group

4-Ethyl-1-octene/4-ethyloctene

C C
C C
C–C–C=C–C–C–C–C–C 4, 8-dimethylthyl-3-nonene/4, 8-dimethylnona-3-ene
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A compound with more than one double bond.

1. Two double bond: diene
2. Three double bond: triene
3. Four double bond: tetraene
Note: Numbers are used to specify the locations of the double bonds.

1 2 3 4 5 6
C–C=C–C=C–C hex-2,4-diene/2,4-hexa-diene

2-methylocta-2,4,5-triene/2-methyl-2,4,5-octatriene
C–C=C–C=C=C–C–C
C
1 2 3 34 4 7 65 5 4 4 3 3 1
1 2 7 6 2 2 1
CH
CH2 2C
C C CCHCH
2 2 CH
CH 3 CC C C C C C C C CH
3 C CH2 2
HHHH H HH H H H H H H H
IUPAC names: 1,3-butadiene 1,3,5-heptatriene
IUPAC names: 1,3-butadiene 1,3,5-heptatriene
new IUPAC names: buta-1,3-diene hepta-1,3,5-triene
new IUPAC names: buta-1,3-diene hepta-1,3,5-triene
1 2
MANUFACTURING
8 OF 1
ALKENES
23
7 8are useful4as 3
Short-chain alkenes starting materials for making ethanol and plastics by a process called
CRACKING (breaking down6 5of long chain hydrocarbons into smaller molecules)
4
7 5, 7-cyclooctatetraene
IUPAC names: 1,3,
5
new IUPAC names:6 cycloocta-1,3,5,7-tetraene
Wha IUPAC names: 1,3, 5, 7-cyclooctatetraene
new IUPAC names: cycloocta-1,3,5,7-tetraene

What are CATALYSTS: CATALYST a substance that changes the rate of a chemical reaction but is itself
unchanged at the end of the process.