ALKENES Unsaturated open chain hydrocarbons containing carbon -

carbon double bonds.

General CnH2n
Formula:-
Where n=number of carbon atom

n value Formula Name

Methene
1 C1 H2 or CH2 (unstable)

2 C2 H4 Ethene(1st
member
3 C3 H6 Propene

4 C4 H8 Butene

C5 H10 Pentene
5
 GEOMETRICAL ISOMERISM
The compounds which have the same structural formula but differ in the spatial
arrangement of atoms or groups of atoms about the double bond are called geometrical
isomers and the phenomena is known as geometrical isomerism. The isomers in which
similar atoms or groups lie on the same side of the double bond is called cis-isomers
while the other in which they are displaced on opposite sides, is called trans-
isomerism.
 Conditions for geometrical isomerism

1. The molecule must contain double bond

2. Each of the two carbon atoms of the double bond must have different
substituent which may be same or different.
3. Geometrical isomers are not possible if one or both doubly bonded carbon
atoms carry two similar substituents. Thus terminal alkenes does not exhibit
geometrical isomerism.
Properties of geometrical isomerism.
Preparation of alkenes
1. By partial reduction of alkynes: catalytic hydrogenation reaction.
❑ Lindlar’s catalyst- Pd supported over CaCO3 or BaSO4 and partially poisoned by additio
of S or quinoline.(cis alkene)
❑ Birch reduction- Na in liquid NH3 (trans alkene)
2. From alkyl halide or haloalkanes (elimination reaction)
Formation of more stable alkene follows saytzeff rule.
3. From monohydric alcohol or alkanols by acidic dehydration
4. Kolbe’s electrolytic method by using sodium or potassium salt of saturated
dicarboxylic acid,
5. From vicinal dihalides
From gem dihalides.
Why do alkenes undergo electrophilic addition reaction?
Addition reaction:-
Addition reaction:- Dihydrogen gas adds to alkenes
1.Addition of hydrogen in the presence of finely divided catalysts like
platinum, palladium or nickel to form ALKANES.
This process is called
HYDROGENATION.
2.Addition of halogen(X2)

1 2
CCl4 CH2-CH2
+ Br-Br | | VICINAL-DIHALIDE
Br Br
Ethene Bromine 1,2-Dibromoethane
(reddish brown) (colourless)
Addition of bromine in CCl4 to an alkene resulting in discharge of
reddish brown colour of bromine(detection of double bond in a
molecule) forming vic-dibromides, which are colourless.

1
NOTE:- CH2-CH-Br
| | GEMINAL-DIHALIDE
H Br 1,1-Dibromoethane
 3.Addition of hydrogen halide(H-X)

+ H-Cl
Ethene
(Symmetrical alkene)

CH3CH=CH2 + H-I
Propene

(Unsymmetrical alkene)

An alkene is converted to alkyl halide by reaction with hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide
or hydrogen iodide

Propene yields two products, however only one predominates as per Markovnikov’s rule.
Cold concentrated sulphuric acid adds to alkenes in accordance with
Markovnikov rule to form alkyl hydrogen sulphate by the electrophilic
addition reaction.
In the presence of a few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid
alkenes react with water to form alcohols, in accordance with the
Markovnikov rule.
 :

➢Ozonolysis of alkenes involves the addition of ozone

molecule to alkene to form ozonide,

➢and then cleavage of the ozonide by Zn-H2O to smaller

molecules.
 Polythene is obtained by the combination of large number of
ethene molecules at high temperature, high pressure and in the
presence of a catalyst. The large molecules thus obtained are
called polymers.
 This reaction is known as polymerisation.
Chain initiation step, propagation , Termination

MONOMERS