Alkenes

The alkenes are a family of unsaturated hydrocarbons.

C2H4 C3H6

Ethene Propene

Unsaturated means that the molecule contains a double bond.

What is the general formula of the alkenes? CnH2n

(Take the number of carbon atoms and double it to get the number of
hydrogen atoms)
 Distinguishing between alkenes
and alkanes.
Alkane have single bonds, are less reactive. They are saturated hydrocarbons.
The double bond in the alkenes makes them unsaturated.
These double bonds are very reactive and can break down into single bonds.
When the alkenes react like this, new bonds mean other atoms can add into the molecule ;
that’s why alkenes are called unsaturated hydrocarbons.
To distinguish between alkanes and alkenes we add a few drops of bromine water. This
adds onto the alkene but does not react with the alkane.

Add
bromine
water

A reaction No change
with the with the
alkene alkane
alkene alkane
bromine water is bromine water remains
decolorised orange
 Cracking
Alkenes are made from long chain alkanes by cracking.
alkane
catalyst
gaseous alkene
product collects here

heat
A compound is being broken down to produce smaller
molecules. This reaction is an example of “thermal
decomposition”.

The long chain alkanes are heated so that they evaporate and pass over a catalyst. The
catalyst can be aluminium oxide or pieces of ceramic pottery.
Catalysts increase the rate of the reaction.
A bond between carbon atoms in the alkane splits open. The alkane
What exactly
remaining is the reaction
has a shorter chain. ? The fragment that “drops off
the end” is an alkene.
 Why do we need cracking after
fractional distillation ?
Liquid petroleum gases
(LPG)

Petrol for car fuel

Fractional distillation cannot supply the
Kerosene for jet fuel demand for these fractions as fuels.

Diesel for lorries/trains

Fuel oil for

industrial heating More gets made than we need. --
supply exceeds demand.
Bitumen for road surfaces

Cracking breaks down the large hydrocarbon molecules for which there is less use.
The larger alkane molecules in the fuel oil and bitumen fractions have limited usefulness as
fuels.
It produces the fuels that are in short supply. Cracking matches It also produces alkene fragments
They
supplyare&thicker,
demandhigher boiling point and it is harder to get them
for fuels. whichburning. They’re
we use for makingless
plastics.
flammable.
 Cracking equations.

Long chain alkane Shorter chain alkane + small alkene

The equation shows the cracking of decane, C10H22. One of the

products is ethene, C2H4.
C10H22 → C2H4 + ______
CH 8 18
Complete the equation to show the other product.
H H H H H H H H H H
H H H H H H H H H H

H C C C C C C C C C C H H C C C C C C C C H
+ C C

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

Used to
We get too much of this from fractional Petrol... (C8H18)
make
distillation. we need this as car fuel
plastics
(C10H22)

A molecule we have too much of, is made into two useful products
 Carbon chemistry.
Check the Learning Objectives

1. What is the difference between an alkene and an alkane?

Alkenes contain a double bond so they are called unsaturated hydrocarbons.
Alkanes only have single bonds between carbon atoms & are said to be saturated.
2. What is the general formula of the alkanes and alkenes?

alkanes are C H
n 2n+2 alkenes are CnH2n
3. Why is cracking a useful chemical reaction? What are
the uses of the products of cracking ?

Cracking produces short chain alkanes and alkenes from less useful long chain
alkanes.
The short chain alkanes produced get use as fuels. The alkenes get
used as the monomers for polymer manufacture.