ORIENT COLLEGES TALAGANG

10th Chemistry
On-Screen Lectures
Chapter # 12
Lecture # 3
Alkenes
Introduction, Preparation, Physical Properties, Chemical
Properties & Uses

2
 THE ALKENES

Alkenes are hydrocarbons containing one or more

carbon-carbon double bonds
Alkenes containing one carbon-carbon double

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bond are called monoenes
They have general formula CnH2n where n is any positive integer
greater than 1
They are also called olefins. This is because lower alkenes (ethene,
propene etc.) react with chlorine or bromine and form oily products
(Ole= oil, fins = forming)

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 General methods of preparation of alkenes

Dehydration of Alcohols
Removal of H2O from a substance is called
dehydration

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When alcohols are heated with dehydrating agent
such as H2SO4, dehydration occurs and alkenes
are formed

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 General methods of preparation of alkenes

Dehydrohalogenation of alkyl halides

Removal of a hydrogen atom and a halogen atom
from a molecules is called dehydrohalogenation

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When alkyl halides are treated with alcoholic
KOH, dehydrohalogenation occurs and alkenes
are formed

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 Physical Properties of Alkenes
 The first member of the alkenes is ethene. It is a colorless gas with
pleasant odor
 Alkenes are nonpolar, therefore, they are insoluble in water but soluble in
organic solvents

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 The first member of the series ethene is slightly less dense than air
 Alkenes are flammable hydrocarbons
On complete combustion, they form carbon dioxide and water with
release of energy. However, their flame is smokier than alkanes having a
similar number of carbon atoms
 Their melting and boiling points gradually increase with the increase of
molecular sizes of the compounds in the series

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 Chemical Reactions of Alkenes
Characteristics Reactions of Alkenes
Alkenes are among the most reactive organic compounds.
Their reactivity is due to presence of pi bond. Polar reagents

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add to double bond and double bond is converted into single
bond. Such reactions are called additions reactions
Additions Reactions
Those reactions in which two atoms or group of atoms
add to a double or triple bond breaking a pi bond are
called addition reactions

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 Chemical Reactions of Alkenes

(Hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes)

When a mixture of hydrogen and an alkene or alkyne is
heated over surface of a metal such as Pd, Pt or Ni,

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alkanes are formed

The reaction is industrially important since vanaspati ghee is formed by

hydrogenation of vegetable oils such as soya been oil, palm oil, count oil,
sunflower oil etc. vegetable oils contains carbon-carbon double bonds while
ghee contains carbon-carbon single bonds

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 Chemical Reactions of Alkenes

Halogenation
When alkenes are treated with halogens (chlorine or bromine) in
non-polar solvent, two halogen atoms add to two double bonded

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carbons and a vicinal dihalide (compound having two halogen
atoms on two adjacent C-atoms) is formed. Reddish brown of
bromine is discharged so it is used to check the presence of double/
triple bond

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 Chemical Reactions of Alkenes

Addition of halogen acid HX (Hydrohalogenation)

When alkenes are treated with halogen acids (such as
HCl, HBr etc.), hydrogen and halogen atom add to two

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double bonded carbons and alkyl halides are formed

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 Chemical Reactions of Alkenes

Reaction with KMnO4 (Oxidation) (Baeyer's Test)

When alkenes are treated with alkaline solution of
KMnO4, two –OH groups add to two double

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bonded carbons and a vicinal diol is formed

In this reaction, purple color of KMnO4 is discharged. So this reaction

is used to check the presence of double/ triple bond because only
alkenes and alkynes react with KMnO4
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 Uses of Ethene
 It is used for artificial ripening of fruits
 It is used as a general anesthetic
 The first member of the series ethene is slightly less dense than air


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It is used to for manufacture of polythene: Polythene is a plastic
material used in packaging, toys, bags, etc.
 It is used as a starting material for the manufacture of a large
number of compounds such as ethylene oxide, ethyl alcohol,
ethylene glycol, diethyl ether, etc.; ethylene oxide is used as a
fumigant, ethylene glycol is used as an anti-freeze, diethyl ether and
ethyl alcohol are used as solvents
 It is used for making poisonous mustard gas which is used in
chemical warfare
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