Alkenes - Reactions
- The double bond in alkenes is an area of high electron density (there are four electrons found in this double bond)
- This makes the double bond susceptible to attack by electrophiles (electron-loving species)
- An electrophilic addition is the addition of an electrophile to a double bond
- The C-C double bond is broken, and a new single bond is formed from each of the two carbon atoms
- Electrophilic addition reactions include the addition of:
- Hydrogen (also known as hydrogenation reaction)
- Steam (H2O (g))
- Hydrogen halide (HX)
- Halogen
The diagram shows an overview of the different electrophilic addition reactions alkenes can undergo
Oxidation
- Alkenes can also be oxidised by acidified potassium manganate(VII) (KMnO4) which is a very powerful oxidising agent
- When shaken with cold dilute KMnO4 the pale purple solution turns colourless and the product is a diol
- This colour change means this reaction can be used, like bromine, to distinguish alkanes from alkenes (alkanes do not have double bonds and so are not oxidised in this way)
- Although you do not need to know the full details of the working of this reaction you can think of it as an oxidation followed by an addition
- The potassium manganate provides an oxygen atom (oxidation)
- Then water in the solution provides another oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, so there is addition of two OH groups across the double bond
