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Alkenes
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Alkenes — Structure, Preparation and Reactions
9.4 Alkenes
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C). The general formula is CₙH₂ₙ. The simplest alkene is ethene (CH₂=CH₂), commonly called ethylene. Alkenes are also called olefins (oil-forming) because the lower members yield oily products with halogens.
9.4.1 Structure of the Double Bond
Each carbon of the C=C is sp²-hybridised. The three sp² hybrid orbitals point to the corners of an equilateral triangle (120° apart) and form three σ bonds. The unhybridised p-orbital on each carbon, perpendicular to the molecular plane, overlaps sideways with the corresponding p-orbital of the other carbon to give a π bond. Hence C=C consists of one σ + one π bond. The C=C bond length is 134 pm and the C–H is 108 pm in ethene; the bond enthalpy of C=C (681 kJ/mol) is greater than that of C–C (348 kJ/mol) but less than twice it because the π bond is weaker than a σ bond.
9.4.2 Nomenclature of Alkenes
Same rules as alkanes, with three additional points:
- The longest chain must include the C=C.
- The chain is numbered to give the C=C the lowest locant.
- The suffix '-ane' becomes '-ene'; locant of C=C is written before the parent name (1993 IUPAC) or before '-ene' suffix (2013 IUPAC).
| Structure | IUPAC name |
|---|---|
| CH₂=CH₂ | Ethene |
| CH₃–CH=CH₂ | Prop-1-ene (Propene) |
| CH₃–CH=CH–CH₃ | But-2-ene |
| CH₂=CH–CH=CH₂ | Buta-1,3-diene |
| (CH₃)₂C=CH₂ | 2-Methylprop-1-ene (isobutylene) |
9.4.3 Isomerism
Alkenes show structural isomerism (chain, position) plus a new kind: geometrical (cis–trans) isomerism, possible whenever each C of C=C carries two different groups.
9.4.4 Preparation of Alkenes
(a) From alkynes — partial hydrogenation
Alkynes on partial reduction with calculated H₂ over Lindlar's catalyst (Pd–CaCO₃ poisoned with Pb(OAc)₂/quinoline) give cis-alkenes; with Na in liquid NH₃ they give trans-alkenes.
CH₃–C≡C–CH₃ + H₂ →Lindlar cis-CH₃–CH=CH–CH₃(b) From alkyl halides — β-elimination (dehydrohalogenation)
Alkyl halides on heating with alcoholic KOH lose a proton from the β-carbon and the halide from the α-carbon, generating a C=C bond:
CH₃–CH₂–CH₂–Br + KOH(alc) →Δ CH₃–CH=CH₂ + KBr + H₂OExample: 2-bromobutane gives but-2-ene (major, disubstituted) over but-1-ene (minor, monosubstituted).
(c) From alcohols — acid-catalysed dehydration
Alcohols on heating with concentrated H₂SO₄ or H₃PO₄ undergo dehydration to alkenes:
CH₃–CH₂–OH →conc H₂SO₄, 443 K CH₂=CH₂ + H₂OReactivity: tertiary > secondary > primary alcohol. Also follows Zaitsev's rule.
(d) From vicinal dihalides — dehalogenation
Vicinal dihalides on treatment with Zn dust in methanol give alkenes:
CH₂Br–CH₂Br + Zn → CH₂=CH₂ + ZnBr₂9.4.5 Physical Properties
The first three members (ethene, propene, butene) are gases; C₅–C₁₅ are liquids; higher members are solids. They are colourless, almost insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents. Ethene has a faint sweet smell. The boiling points of straight-chain alkenes are very similar to those of corresponding alkanes.
9.4.6 Chemical Reactions
The π electrons of C=C are loosely held and act as a nucleophile, so alkenes typically undergo electrophilic addition. The π bond breaks and two new σ bonds form across the double bond, converting an unsaturated to a saturated product.
(i) Addition of Hydrogen — catalytic hydrogenation
CH₂=CH₂ + H₂ →Ni/Δ CH₃–CH₃ ΔH = –137 kJ/molUsed industrially to convert vegetable oils (unsaturated) to vanaspati ghee (saturated).
(ii) Addition of Halogens — bromine water test
Alkenes decolourise an orange-red solution of bromine in CCl₄ to a colourless vicinal dibromide. This is a routine test for unsaturation:
CH₂=CH₂ + Br₂ → CH₂Br–CH₂Br (1,2-dibromoethane)(iii) Addition of Hydrogen Halides (HX)
Symmetrical alkenes give a single product, but unsymmetrical alkenes raise the question: which way does HX add?
Mechanism for HBr + propene:
CH₃–CH=CH₂ + H⁺ → CH₃–CH⁺–CH₃ (2°, more stable — preferred)
OR CH₃–CH=CH₂ + H⁺ → CH₃–CH₂–CH₂⁺ (1°, less stable)
CH₃–CH⁺–CH₃ + Br⁻ → CH₃–CHBr–CH₃ (2-bromopropane — major)
Result: H added to the C with more H, Br to the C with fewer H. Carbocation stability order: 3° > 2° > 1° > CH₃⁺. This is because alkyl groups release electrons (+I) and stabilise the positive charge through hyperconjugation.
(iv) Anti-Markovnikov addition — Peroxide effect (Kharasch effect)
In presence of organic peroxide (e.g. (PhCO₂)₂ or H₂O₂), HBr adds in the OPPOSITE orientation: Br to the C with more H. This is called the peroxide effect or Kharasch effect, observed only with HBr (not HCl, HI). It proceeds by a free-radical mechanism:
Br• + CH₃–CH=CH₂ → CH₃–•CH–CH₂Br (2° radical, stable)
CH₃–•CH–CH₂Br + HBr → CH₃–CH₂–CH₂Br + Br• (1-bromopropane, anti-Markovnikov!)
(v) Addition of H₂SO₄ (and subsequent hydrolysis to alcohol)
CH₂=CH₂ + H₂SO₄ → CH₃–CH₂–OSO₂OHCH₃–CH₂–OSO₂OH + H₂O →Δ CH₃–CH₂–OH + H₂SO₄
(vi) Hydration
Direct addition of water in presence of dilute H₂SO₄ gives alcohols (Markovnikov):
CH₃–CH=CH₂ + H₂O →H⁺ CH₃–CH(OH)–CH₃ (propan-2-ol)(vii) Oxidation
(a) Cold dilute alkaline KMnO₄ (Baeyer's reagent) — oxidises alkene to vicinal diol; the purple colour of KMnO₄ disappears (test for unsaturation):
CH₂=CH₂ + [O] + H₂O →cold dil. KMnO₄ CH₂(OH)–CH₂(OH)(b) Hot conc. KMnO₄ — cleaves the C=C entirely, giving carbonyl compounds.
(c) Combustion: Burns with luminous (sooty) flame to CO₂ + H₂O.
(viii) Ozonolysis
Alkene + O₃ in CCl₄ → ozonide; ozonide + Zn/H₂O → two carbonyl fragments. The reaction enables identification of the position of the double bond:
CH₃–CH=CH–CH₃ + O₃ → ozonide →Zn/H₂O 2 CH₃CHO (acetaldehyde)(CH₃)₂C=CHCH₃ + O₃ → ozonide →Zn/H₂O (CH₃)₂C=O + CH₃CHO
(ix) Polymerisation
Many alkene molecules link together to form a polymer:
n CH₂=CH₂ →high T & P, catalyst –(CH₂–CH₂)–ₙ (polythene)n CH₂=CH(CH₃) → –(CH₂–CH(CH₃))–ₙ (polypropene)
Markovnikov vs Anti-Markovnikov Predictor
Choose an alkene + reagent + presence/absence of peroxide; the simulator predicts the major product and tells you why.
Major product:
CH₃-CHBr-CH₃ (Markovnikov)
Rule applied: Markovnikov — H goes to the C with more H; Br goes to the C with less H. Mechanism via 2° carbocation.
Setup: Two unlabelled tubes contain colourless liquids: hexane and hex-1-ene. A third tube contains orange-red bromine in CCl₄.
Add a few drops of Br₂/CCl₄ to each tube and shake.
- The tube containing hexane retains the orange-red colour (no reaction — saturated).
- The tube containing hex-1-ene decolourises the bromine almost instantly:
CH₂=CH–C₄H₉ + Br₂ → CH₂Br–CHBr–C₄H₉ (1,2-dibromohexane, colourless).
The disappearance of bromine colour without HBr fumes is the classical qualitative test for a C=C double bond.
Worked Example 1: Geometrical isomers
Draw cis and trans isomers of pent-2-ene. Which is more stable?
cis: CH₃ and CH₂CH₃ on the same side (Z).
trans: CH₃ and CH₂CH₃ on opposite sides (E).
The trans (E) isomer is more stable because the two larger groups are far apart, minimising steric strain. The cis isomer has higher energy by ~4 kJ/mol due to crowding.
Worked Example 2: Predicting addition products
Predict the major product when HBr adds to 2-methylpropene (a) without peroxide, (b) in presence of benzoyl peroxide.
(a) Without peroxide → Markovnikov: H goes to C with more H (C2), Br to C with less H (C1). The intermediate is a 3° tert-butyl cation, very stable.
Product: (CH₃)₃C–Br = 2-bromo-2-methylpropane (tert-butyl bromide).
(b) With peroxide → Anti-Markovnikov (radical): Br• adds to C2 (giving the more stable 3° radical at C1). Then HBr supplies H to C1.
Product: (CH₃)₂CH–CH₂Br = 1-bromo-2-methylpropane (isobutyl bromide).
Note: peroxide effect operates only with HBr — not HCl (C–Cl bond too strong) or HI (H–I bond too weak).
Worked Example 3: Ozonolysis to identify the alkene
An unknown alkene C₅H₁₀ on ozonolysis gives only acetone ((CH₃)₂C=O) and formaldehyde (HCHO). Identify the alkene.
Acetone: (CH₃)₂C=O contributes (CH₃)₂C=
Formaldehyde: HCHO contributes =CH₂
Combine: (CH₃)₂C=CH₂ — that is 2-methylpropene (isobutylene) — molecular formula C₄H₈, but the question says C₅H₁₀!
Wait: 2-methylpropene is C₄H₈. To match C₅H₁₀ with the same products, the alkene must be 2-methylbut-2-ene or 2-methyl-but-1-ene? Let us re-examine: 2-methylbut-2-ene is (CH₃)₂C=CH–CH₃, which on ozonolysis gives (CH₃)₂C=O (acetone) + CH₃CHO (acetaldehyde) — does NOT match (would give acetaldehyde not formaldehyde).
Hence the only structure giving exactly acetone + formaldehyde is 2-methylpropene, (CH₃)₂C=CH₂ (C₄H₈). The C₅H₁₀ in the question cannot give exactly these two products. The intended answer for the C₄H₈ ozonolysis is 2-methylpropene.
Competency-Based Questions
Q1. The hybridisation of the carbon atoms of a C=C double bond is: L1 Remember
Q2. Why does HBr add to propene contrary to Markovnikov's rule when an organic peroxide is present? L4 Analyse
Q3. An alkene C₆H₁₂ on ozonolysis gives two molecules of CH₃CHO. Identify the alkene and write its IUPAC name. L3 Apply
Q4. Compare the stabilities of cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene. Justify with reasoning. L5 Evaluate
Q5. HOT (Create): Design a single synthetic sequence converting propene into propan-1-ol (a primary alcohol). Hint: use the peroxide effect strategically. L6 Create
Step 1: Propene + HBr in presence of (PhCO₂)₂ peroxide → 1-bromopropane (anti-Markovnikov) → CH₃CH₂CH₂Br.
Step 2: 1-bromopropane + aqueous KOH (NOT alcoholic) → propan-1-ol via SN2:
CH₃CH₂CH₂Br + KOH(aq) → CH₃CH₂CH₂OH + KBr.
Direct hydration of propene with H₂O/H⁺ would give propan-2-ol (Markovnikov, secondary alcohol). The peroxide-effect detour is essential to obtain the primary alcohol.
Assertion–Reason Questions
Choose: (A) Both true, R explains A. (B) Both true, R doesn't explain A. (C) A true, R false. (D) A false, R true.
A: Bromine water decolourises rapidly with ethene but not with ethane.
R: Ethene is unsaturated and undergoes electrophilic addition with Br₂; ethane is saturated and inert under the same conditions.
A: Markovnikov addition of HBr to propene gives 2-bromopropane as the major product.
R: The intermediate secondary carbocation is more stable than the corresponding primary carbocation.
A: Peroxide effect is observed in HCl as well as HBr addition.
R: The bond enthalpy of H–Cl is too high for radical chain to propagate efficiently, while H–I is too weak.
Frequently Asked Questions — Alkenes — Structure, Preparation and Reactions
What are alkenes and what is their general formula?
How are alkenes prepared from alcohols and alkyl halides?
What is Markovnikov's rule?
What is the peroxide effect (Kharasch effect)?
What is ozonolysis of alkenes?
What is polymerisation of alkenes?
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