Physical Properties and

Chemical Reactions of
Alkanes, Alkenes,
Alcohols, Halogeno
Alkanes

Tuana Durmayüksel
 Alkanes
The alkanes are non-polar
molecules with only London
forces between molecules.
This means that they are
volatile (evaporate easily) –
the first four members are
gases at room temperature.
Because of their non-polar
nature, they are insoluble in
water.

Reactions of alkanes
Combustion Reactions
- Complete combustion
produces carbon dioxide and water.
- Incomplete combustion
produces carbon monoxide and soot (C) as well as water
Alkanes are generally fairly unreactive, because:
1. the high strengths of C–C and C–H bonds means that it is generally
energetically unfavourable to break them in a reaction
2. C–C and C–H bonds are essentially non-polar and so are unlikely to attract
polar molecules or ions.
Reaction of alkanes with halogens
Alkanes react with halogens in the presence of sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light.
 ALKENES
The functional group in alkenes is C=C.
The alkenes, like the alkanes, have non-polar molecules
with only London forces between them. This
means that they are volatile – the first four members
are gases at room temperature.
- They are also insoluble in water because of their non-
polar nature.
- Alkenes and alkynes are called unsaturated
compounds.
- Alkanes, and other compounds not containing multiple
bonds, are described as saturated.

Reactions of alkenes
Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes.
Because:
 The second component (π bond) of the
C=C bond is weaker than a normal C–C
single bond (σ bond) and is, therefore,
more easily broken.
The double bond (four electrons)
represents a region of high electron
density, and therefore it attracts
electrophiles.
An electrophile is a reagent (a positively
charged ion or the positive end of a
dipole) that is attracted to regions of high
electron density and accepts a pair of
electrons (Lewis acid) to form a covalent
bond.
 Distinguishing between alkanes and alkenes
Alkene: bromine water – orange to colourless (not
Clear, Colourless)
Alkane: bromine water – no colour change
Alcohols

Alcohols are acidic in

nature. They react with

metals such as sodium,

potassium etc. It is due to

the polarity of bond

between hydrogen atom

and oxygen atom of hydroxyl

group. Primary alcohols are

more acidic than secondary

and tertiary alcohols.

Halogenoalkanes
 Nucleophilic substitution reactions
Substitution reaction: one atom or group
is replaced by another atom or group.
A nucleophile is a molecule or negatively
charged ion that has a lone pair of
electrons – it is attracted to a
relatively highly positively charged region
in a molecule (a region with lower
electron density) and donates a
lone pair of electrons to form a covalent
bond.
An example for a nucleophilic
substitution reaction. The halogenoalkane
is attacked by a nucleophile and the
nucleophile replaces the halogen atom.
Halogenoalkanes can also react with
ammonia to form amines.
Halogenoalkanes can also react with
potassium cyanide to form nitriles. This
type of reaction is useful because it
provides a way of increasing the length of
the carbon chain.
 Bibliography
“Halogenoalkanes: Summary & Definition: A-Level
Chemistry Notes.” A Level Chemistry, 3 Nov. 2021,
https://alevelchemistry.co.uk/notes/halogenoalkanes/.
Bluemel, Martin. IB Chemistry. Oxford Study
Courses, 2008.