Chapter 14: Alkenes Flashcards
What type of hydrocarbon is Alkenes
- Unsaturated Hydrocarbon
- Has 1 or more double bonds
- Double bond makes them more reactive as there is a high concentration of electrons ( high electron density) around double bond.
- Makes more bonds with extra atoms.
What is the general formula of Alkenes
- CnH2n
- Only contains Carbon and Hydrogen
What is the shape of alkenes
- Flat/planar molecule
- No rotation about the double bond.
- There is a p-orbital containing a single electron on each carbon.
- They overlap to form a cloud of electron density above and below the bond called π bond.
What are the 2 types of isomers of Alkenes
- Position
- Geometrical
What are Position Isomers
- Double bond in different positions in the carbon chain
- But-1-ene, But-2-ene
What are Geometrical Isomers
- Same structural formula but bonds are arranged differently
- Occurs around C=C bond. E/Z Notation based on atomic number.
- Z - But-2-ene (same side) and E - But-2-ene (different sides)
How do Alkenes react
- The C=C bond forms an electron rich area and can be attacked by positively charged reagents (electrophiles - electron pair acceptors)
What is the Electrophilic Addition reaction between Alkenes and Hydrogen Halide (HBr)
- Double bond repels electrons in HBr
- The electrophile is attracted
- The Br is more electronegative than H so is polar. Electrons are drawn towards Br.
- H-Br bond breaks heterolytically.
- Forms a carbocation.
What is the Electrophilic Addition reaction between Alkenes and Halogens (Br2) and conditions
- Conditions: Aqueous
- Double bond repels electrons in Br2
- Br attracted to double bond and repels electrons to the other Br
What is the Electrophilic Addition reaction between Alkenes and Concentrated Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) and conditions
- Conditions: cold, conc, room temp
What is the Electrophilic Addition reaction between Water and Alkenes
- Conditions: Strong aqueous, acid catalyst
What are major and minor products and how are they formed and which one is more stable
- Alkyl groups release electrons (positive inductive effect)
- This stabilises the positive charge of intermediate carbocation
- Tertiary carbocation is more stable than primary carbocation as it has 3 alkyl groups attcahed to the C+ of carbocation.
- Major is more stable than minor
How to test for Unsaturation in Alkenes
- Shake an alkene with orange bromine water
- Solution turns from orange to colourless (decolourises)
- Bromine is added to double bond to form colourless dibromoalkane (electrophilic addition)
What are Polymers
- Long chain molecules formed when lots of small monomers are joined
- E.g DNA, Starch, Proteins, Cellulose
How are Addition Polymers formed
- Made from monomers with carbon carbon double bond
- Can be formed from alkene or substituted alkene (H replaced by another atom)