Structure of Alkenes

All alkenes contain the carbon-carbon double bond.

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 Structure of Alkenes

Any molecule that contains carbon-carbon double

bonds is described as unsaturated.
Thus, alkenes are called unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbon –
contains only
hydrogen and
carbon

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 Structure of Alkenes
The first 3 members of the alkene homologous series...

The first member of alkene is

ethene, not methene.

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 Structure of Alkenes

Each alkene differs from the next by

a –CH2 – unit.

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 Structure of Alkenes

The first few alkenes are gases.

Boiling point increases as the alkene
size increases.

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 What is the general molecular formula
for the alkene homologous series?

Alkanes have the general

molecular formula CnH2n.
C2H4 If an alkene contains 2 carbon atom,
n = 2.

C3H6 It has the molecular formula

C2H(2×2) = C2H4. This is ethene.

Similarly, the alkene with 3 carbon atoms has the

molecular formula C3H(2×3) = C3H6. This is propene.
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 What are the properties of the alkene
homologous series?

Like alkanes, alkenes have 5 general properties:

• have the same functional group,

• have similar chemical properties,
• show a gradual change in their physical properties,
• have the same general formula,
• each member of the series differs from the next by
a –CH2– unit.

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 Isomerism in Alkenes

How are these two alkenes

similar or different?

They have the same molecular formula

(C4H8) but different structural formulas.

Such molecules are called isomers.

Isomers have different properties e.g. boiling point

from each other.
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 Manufacturing Alkenes by Cracking

Alkenes are obtained by cracking petroleum (crude oil).

Cracking is the breaking down of long-chain hydrocarbons
into smaller molecules.

Here, hexane is cracked

to produce butane and
ethene.

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 Cracking – Conditions and Products
Cracking is done by
passing the petroleum fraction (long chains of carbon
atoms)
over a catalyst (aluminium oxide or silicon(IV) oxide)
at a high temperature (about 600 °C).

3 possible products

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 Cracking of Alkenes in School
Laboratory
Petroleum vapour is passed over a heated porous pot.
The porous pot contains the catalysts.
The product is a mixture of alkanes and alkenes especially
ethene.

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 Why is cracking important?

Cracking is used to produce…

1. petrol

2. short-chain alkenes

3. hydrogen

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 1. Cracking is used to produce petrol.

Our need for petrol is greater than our need for

diesel oil or lubricating oil.

Through cracking, diesel oil or lubricating oil

can be converted into petrol.

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 2. Cracking is used to produce
short-chain alkenes.

Short-chain alkenes such as ethene and

propene are used as starting materials for
making ethanol and plastics.

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 3. Cracking is used to produce
hydrogen.

Hydrogen is a by-product in
the cracking of alkanes.

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 Properties of Alkenes

Alkenes take part in combustion

and addition reactions.

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 Properties of Alkenes
Combustion

Alkenes burn in a plentiful supply of air

(oxygen) to form carbon dioxide and
water vapour.

C2H4(g) + 3O2(g) → 2CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

Alkenes burn with a smokier flame than alkanes

with a similar number of carbon atoms.

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 Properties of Alkenes
Addition Reactions

Why do alkenes undergo addition

reactions?

The carbon-carbon double bonds in

alkenes are reactive and thus will
readily undergo addition reactions.

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 Addition Reactions

In an addition reaction, carbon-carbon

double bonds become single bonds.

Hence, an unsaturated hydrocarbon becomes a

saturated organic compound.

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 3 Addition Reactions

1. Hydrogenation —
addition of hydrogen to alkenes

2. Bromination —
addition of bromine to alkenes

3. Hydration —
addition of steam to alkenes

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 Hydrogenation –
Addition of Hydrogen to Alkenes

At 200 °C and in the presence of a catalyst

such as nickel, alkenes can react with
hydrogen to form alkanes.

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 Bromination –
Addition of Bromine to Alkenes

If an alkene is added to a solution of bromine,

the reddish-brown colour disappears
(decolourises) immediately and a colourless
oil is formed.

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 Bromination –
Addition of Bromine to Alkenes

The product formed is called

1,2–dibromoethane.

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 Bromination –
Why is it useful?

We can use bromination to test for the presence

of an alkene or unsaturation.

If an alkene or
unsaturation is
present, bromine
solution will be
rapidly
decolourised.

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 Bromination

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 Hydration –
Addition of Steam to Alkenes

Ethene can react with steam to produce ethanol.

Conditions: catalyst (phosphoric(V) acid),
300 °C and 60 atm

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 Similarities between Alkanes and
Alkenes

1. Both alkanes and alkenes are hydrocarbons.

2. Both alkanes and alkenes are flammable.

On complete combustion, they form carbon
dioxide and water.

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 Differences between Alkanes and
Alkenes

1. Molecular structure
Alkanes contain only single bonds between
carbon atoms, whereas alkenes contain double
bonds between carbon atoms.

2. Reactivity
Alkanes are generally unreactive but alkenes are
very reactive.

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 Differences between Alkanes and
Alkenes
3. Type of reaction
Alkanes – substitution reactions
Alkenes – addition reactions and polymerisation

4. Reaction with aqueous bromine

Alkenes rapidly decolourise aqueous bromine,
while alkanes do not.

5. Combustion
Alkenes produce a smokier flame than alkanes.

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 Fats and Oils

Fats are solids at room temperature and pressure.

Oils are liquids at room temperature and pressure.

Some fats and oils are polyunsaturated.

contain more than one

carbon-carbon double bond

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 How is margarine produced?

To produce margarine, we add hydrogen to

vegetable oil. A temperature of 200 °C and a
nickel catalyst are required.

The greater the amount of hydrogen used,

the more solid the margarine becomes.

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