THE ALKENES

The Alkenes are a group of unsaturated hydrocarbons

that are represented with the general molecular
formula of CnH2n, where n is equal to or greater than 2.
Molecules of alkenes contain at least one C=C double
bond in their structures.
NOMENCLATURE
The names of the alkenes end in “ene”
WHEN n =2
The molecular formula of the alkene is C2H2(2) = C2H4.
The name of this alkene is Ethene.
WHEN n = 3
The molecular formula of the alkene is C3H2(3) = C3H6 .
The name of the alkene is Propene
TABLE OF SOME COMMON ALKENES
MOLECULA
R FORMULA
ALKENE BP0C STATE

ETHENE C2H4 -104 GAS

-47 GAS
PROPENE C3H6
C4H8 -6 GAS
BUTENE
PENTENE C5H10 + 30 GAS
SOME STRUCTURES OF THE ALKENES
• Ethylene = ethene

•Propylene = propene

•Isobutylene = 2-
methylpropene

•Isoprene = 2-methyl-
1,3-butadiene
 Naming alkenes
Alkenes with four or more carbon atoms display positional
isomerism because the carbon–carbon double bond may appear
between different carbon atoms.

If there are two or more possible positions for the double bond, a
number is used before the –ene to indicate the first carbon
involved.

but-1-ene but-2-ene
 ETHENE
This is the first and most important member of
the alkene family.
PREPARATION: Ethene can be manufactured by
cracking of high molecular mass petroleum
fractions e.g.
• C17H36 → C8H18 +3C2H4 +C3H6.
• C12H2 6 → C10H22 + C2H4
 LABORATORY PREPARATION
Ethene can be prepared in the laboratory by
dehydrating ethanol with concentrated H2SO4.
To prepare the gas , ethanol and H2SO4 are mixed in the
ratio of 1:2 and then heated to 170o C.
 LABORATORY PRPARATION
The equations of the reaction are:
C2H5OH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → C2H5HSO4(aq) + H2O(aq)
• Ethylhydrogen tetra-oxosulphate (VI)
The C2H5HSO4 decomposes in the presence of excess acid when
heated to give ethene.
C2H5HSO4(aq) → C2H4(g) + H2SO4(aq)
The overall reaction equation is;
C2H5OH(aq) → C2H4(g) +H2O
NOTE:
The empty flask is to prevent NaOH from sucking back into the
reaction mixture
The NaOH is to remove gaseous impurities such as CO2 and SO2.
 PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• It is a colourless gas with a faint sweetish odor.
• It is less dense than air and sparingly soluble in
water
• It has no action on litmus.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. COMBUSTION: It burns readily in air or oxygen
to form water and carbon (IV) oxide.
C2H4 + 3O2 2CO2 + 2H2O
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
ADDITION REACTION
Ethene being unsaturated undergoes addition reaction
to give a saturated product.
(a) HYDROGENATION: This is the addition of hydrogen.
Hydrogen adds to ethene in the presence of Ni or Pt
catalyst at 150 -300oC to form ethane.
C2H4(g) + H2(g) C2H6(g)
This method is used to convert unsaturated oil into
saturated fat in the manufacture of Margarine.
Vegetable oil + H2 solid fat.
(unsaturated) (saturated)
Soft margarine is produced when some of the double
bonds are left intact.
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
(b) HYDRATION: This is the addition of water at 300oC and
30 atmospheres in the presence of
Phosphoric acid catalyst, steam adds to ethene to form
ethanol.
C2H4(g) + H2O(g) C2H5OH(aq)

(c) HALOGENATION: This is the addition of the halogens. At

room temperature, Chlorine and Bromine add to ethene
to form the halogenated product.
C2H4 + Cl2 CH2ClCH2Cl (1, 2- dichloroethane)

C2H4 + Br2 C2H4Br2 ( 1, 2 – dibromoethane)

 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
(d) CHLORINE AND BROMINE WATER:
Chlorine and Bromine water combines with
ethene to form 2- chloroethanol and 2-
bromoethanol respectively.
C2H4 + HOCl CH2ClCH2OH
C2H4 + HOBr CH2BrCH2OH
(e) HYDROGEN HALIDES: Ethene combines readily with
hydrogen halide vapor to form halogenated products.
C2H4(g) + HI(g) C2H5I (iodoethane)

C2H4(g) + HBr(g) C2H5Br (bromoethane)

 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
(f) TETRAOXOSULPHATE (VI) ACID:
At room temperature, concentrated H2SO4 readily
absorb ethene to form ethylhydrogen
tetraoxosulphate(VI). This hydrolysis in boiled
water to form ethanol.
C2H4 + H2SO4 C2H5HSO4
C2H5HSO4 + H2O C2H5OH + H2SO4
(g) TETRAOXOMANGANATE (VII): Ethene bubbled
through acidified, purple colored KMnO4 solution
decolorizes the solution and form ethane 1,2 – diol
CH2=CH2 + H2O . [O] CH2OHCH2OH
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
NOTE (a) Alkaline solution of KMnO4 gives a green
solution.
(b) a mixture of ethene and Oxygen passed over
Silver catalyst at 250oC forms epoxy ethane
(ethylene oxide)
CH2= CH2 +1/2O2 CH2OCH2
3. POLYMERIZATION:
Ethene and its derivatives undergo addition
polymerization to form important compounds
such as polythene and polystyrene.
 Testing for alkenes
The presence of
unsaturation (a carbon–
carbon double bond) can be
detected using bromine
water, a red/orange
coloured solution of
bromine.

A few drops of bromine water are added to the test liquid and
shaken. If a carbon–carbon double bond is present, the
bromine adds across it and the solution turns colourless.
 USES OF ETHENE
I. Is a source of many organic raw materials
such as ethane, ethanol and ethanoic acid.
II. Is a raw material for many plastics such as
pvc, polystyrene and polythene.
III. Used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber
such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
IV. Used to hasten ripening of fruit
V. 1, 2 – dibromoethene is used as petrol
additive.