Chapter 13 Alkenes Flashcards
What are alkenes?
Unsaturated hydrocarbons which contain carbon and hydrogen atoms only, joined together with at least one C-C double bond.
What is the general formula of aliphatic alkenes that contain only one Carbon double bond?
CnH2n
However, both Cyclic alkenes and and alkenes containing more than one double bond do not conform to the same general formula.
What is the polarity of alkenes?
Non-polar, alkenes will dissolve in non-polar solvents only.
What is the shape and bond angle around the double bond of an alkene?
Trigonal Planar, 120 degrees.
This is because there are three bonding pairs of electrons and no lone pairs.
Electron pairs repel, bond pairs repel equally and lone pairs repel more.
All atoms are in the same plane
How are the Carbon atoms in a double bond of an alkene bonded together?
For each Carbon atom of the double bond, three electrons out of the four outer bonding electrons are used to form three sigma bonds- one electron to the other Carbon atom of the double bond and the two other electrons to two other atoms (either Carbon or Hydrogen)
However, the last electron forms a π bond.
What is a π bond?
The sideways overlap of adjacent p-orbitals above and below the carbon atoms.
What is a σ bond?
The direct overlap of orbitals between bonding atoms.
How many π bonds are there in a double bond?
One π bond
It is the electron density which is concentrated above and below the plane of both Carbon atoms.
What does the π bond prevent the Carbon atoms in the double bond from doing?
The π bond prevents the two carbon atoms from rotating around the double bond.
What is stereoisomerism?
Stereoisomers have the same structural formula but different spatial arrangement of atoms or groups.
When can E/Z stereoisomerism be shown?
Alkenes can show E/Z isomerism when there are different atoms/ groups of atoms bonded to each carbon atom of the Carbon to Carbon double bond.
Why can E/Z isomerism in alkenes be shown?
Different atoms/ groups are fixed in different spatial arrangements due to the lack of rotation of the C=C
What is cis trans isomerism?
Special case of E/Z isomerism.
Molecules must still have a C=C and each carbon in the double bond must be attached to two different groups/atoms, however cis trans isomers will have an identical group across the double bond.
Eg - The Y group is identical across the double bond, however each Carbon atom is still attached to two different group/ atoms- X and Y or Z and Y
X Y
\ /
C====C
/ \
Y Z
What is a cis isomer?
The identical group is bonded on the same side of the molecule.
What is a trans isomer?
The identical group is bonded on opposite sides of the molecule.
When can cis trans isomerism only be used?
There must be an identical group attached across the double bond
Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?
Due to the presence of the TT bond which has a lower bond enthalpy compared to the sigma bond, therefore it is weaker as less energy is required to overcome.
What can alkenes undergo addition reactions with?
Hydrogen
Halogens
Hydrogen Halides
Steam
During the hydrogenation of alkenes what is required for the reaction?
Presence of a nickel catalyst
Up to 150 degrees
What is the test for alkenes?
Orange Bromine water turns colourless in the presence of a double bond.
When can two possible products be formed in an addition reaction?
If an unsymmetrical alkenes reacts with an unsymmetrical compound two possible products can be formed.
During the hydration of alkenes what is required for the reaction?
The alkene reacts with steam in the presence of a Phosphoric acid catalyst at a temperature greater than 100 degrees
What is the mechanism of alkenes?
Electrophilic addition
Explain the Electrophilic addition mechanism between but-2-ene and Hydrogen Bromide.
1- Bromine is more electronegative than hydrogen, therefore Hydrogen bromide is polar and contains a slightly positive hydrogen atom bonded to a slightly negative bromine atom.
2- The electron pair in the TT bond is attracted to the partially positive hydrogen atom which causes the double bond to break
3- A bond then forms between the hydrogen atom of the H—Br molecule and a Carbon atom that was part of the double bond
4- The H—Br bond then breaks by heterolytic fission, so the electron pair moves to the Bromine atom
5- A Bromide ion, Br-, and a carboncation is formed.
6- The Br- ion reacts with the Carboncation to form the addition product