General formula:

CnH
2

n
unsaturated
ALKENE
have double
,
hydrocarbon
bonds, C=C where n = 2, 3, 4...

Naming for
alkenes:
-ane change to
-ene

 Melting/boiling point:
low
Density:
less dense than water

Alkenes are more reactive than

alkanes.
Alkenes are
unsaturated hydrocarbons
Have double bond,
C=C
Alkenes can undergo:

combustion
reaction

addition

Complete combustion
Product- CO
2

and H
2

O
Example: Butene (C
4

H
8

In an addition reaction:
i) a molecule is
added
to the two carbons of a double bond.
ii) One of the bonds that are part of the double bond
between the carbons, C is broken.
iii) The product is
(1)
ADDITION OF
saturated
HYDROGEN
GAS, H
compound (alkane).
2

(Hydrogenation)
catalysts used: platinum,
Pt
and nickel,
Ni
heated at
180C
Hydrogen molecule, H
2

added to the alkene molecule. An alkane is produced.

temperature
150C to 180C

catalyst
C

(Ethene)

(Ethane)

REMEMBER:
Hydrogenation = adding of hydrogen, H
2

which can also be written as,

HH

Alkene reacts with halogens (GROUP 17) such as chlorine, Cl

2

and bromine, Br
2

.
The halogen molecule added to the alkene molecule. The product is a
haloalkane
.
Example: X X
||
~C=C~ + XX ~C
C~
Chlorine
H H Propene
H (C
HHH
1,2dichloropropane
(Cl
| | | | | |3
2
H
)
(a) HC=CCH
+
ClCl
HCCCH
6
|||| )
H Cl Cl H

A mixture of alkene and hydrogen halides (such as hydrogen chloride,

HCl or hydrogen bromide, HBr) reacts at room condition.
The product is a haloalkane.
Example:
HHHHHH
||||||
a) HC=CCH
+
HCl HCCCH
||||
H H Cl H
Propene + Hydrogen Chloride > 2chlorobutane

Catalyst used: phosphoric acid,

H
3

PO
4

.
Heated at:
300C
, under
60 atm
pressure.
Water molecule is added to the alkene molecule. Product is
alcohol
.
Example:
Pentene + Water Pentanol
HHHHHHHHHH
||||||||||
HC=CCCCH
+
HOH HCCCCCH

An alkene reacts with KMnO

4

solution acidified with sulphuric acid, H

2

SO
4

at room condition.
The
purple color
of KMnO
4

is
decolourized
.
The product is an
alcohol
(contain ~two OHdiol)
Example:
HHHHHH
||||||
HC=CCH

To form polymer = a long chain of monomer.

Monomer is an alkene molecule that is broken to double bonds, joint or
links together with another to form a polymer.
The condition for polymerization to take place are:
temperature:
100C to 300C
pressure:
n is any number
100 atm
Polymerization process in general: 50between
to 20 000
HH
||
n

~C=C~ ~{~CC~}~
n

||
HH
alkene
polymer

Steps to make a polymer.

Step 1
: focus to double bonds, and bend the other carbon atom
Step 2
: Break the double bonds
Step 3

CC=CC
Step 1: Focus to double bonds and bend the other
carbon atom
C=C
||
CC
Step 2: Break the double bonds
~CC~
||
CC
Step 3: Make a bracket between the monomer and
put n.
~{~CC~}~
{||}
{ H H }n
Step 4: Complete the hydrogen atoms
{HH}
{||}
~{~CC~}~
{||}
{CH3 CH3}n