ALKENES

Topic Outline:
• Representation
• Structure
• Nomenclature
• Examples
 Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must be able to:

1. Understand the general formula that characterizes alkenes.
2. Draw structural formulas for specific alkenes, applying the general
formula.
3. Apply the IUPAC nomenclature system in naming various alkenes.
 Alkene
• Alkene is an aliphatic and unsaturated hydrocarbons
that contain one or more carbon-to-carbon double
bonds.

• The functional group of alkene is C = C.

 Representation of Alkenes
General Formula:

CnH2n
where:
C is for Carbon
H is for Hydrogen
n is for the number of atoms
 Structure of Alkenes
Molecular Structural Formula Condensed Formula Line formula
Formula
(CnH2n)

C2H4

CH2 = CH2

C4H8

CH2=CHCH2CH3
 Nomenclature
Straight Chain Alkenes
1. Names are derived from the names of alkanes with the same
number of C-atoms by replacing -ane with -ene.
Examples.
ethane - ethene
propane - propene

2. Utilizes Greek prefixes to indicate the number of carbons, except

alkenes with 1-4 carbons (MEPB).
 Nomenclature
3. The position of the double bond in the chain should be at the
lowest-numbered carbon atom containing the double bond. This
number is placed immediately before the name of the compound, with
a hyphen between a number and the chain.

1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1

CH3 C CH CH CH3 NOT CH3 C CH CH CH3

2-pentene
 Nomenclature
4. If there is more than one double bond, a number is used for each
one with the prefix di-, tri-, and so on, placed just before the -ene
ending.
(Note: An “a” is added to the prefix of the chain if inclusion of di, tri,
etc.)
Example:
• 1,3-butadiene NOT 1,3-butdiene
Complete the table.
n Molecular Condensed Structural Line Formula IUPAC
Formula Formula Formula Name
(CnH2n)

2 C2H4 CH2 = CH2 ethene

6
Complete the table.
n Molecular Condensed Structural Line Formula IUPAC
Formula Formula Formula Name
(CnH2n)

2 C2H4 CH2 = CH2 ethene

3 C3H6 CH2 = CHCH3 propene

4 C4H8 CH2 = CHCH2CH3 1-butane

5 C5H10 CH2 = CH(CH2)2CH3 1-pentene

6 C6H12 CH2 = CH(CH2)3CH3 1-hexene

References
• J. McMurry (2003). Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry, Fifth Edition.
p.74-78

• W. Seese & G. Daub (1981). Basic Chemistry, Third Edition. P. 462-466.

THANK YOU!