Reactions of Alkenes

Electrophilic addition
1. electrophiles attack the double bond and are added to the carbon.
2. electrophiles are electron pair acceptors so they are normally positive
  1. ions like H+ or NO2+
  2. delta positive part of a molecule
3. double bond is nucleophilic (wants to donate electrons)
Bromine water test for alkenes
1. Shake with bromine water and the solution turns colourless
2. Electrophilic addition, as the delta positive bromine is attacked by the double bond
With hydrogen halides
1. electrophilic addition reaction
2. when it is an unsymmetrical alkene, two products are made
  1. higher carbocation = more stable = more likely
with water and sulphuric acid catalyst
1. electrophilic addition with the sulphuric acid
  1. hydrolysed to form an alcohol and the sulphuric acid is regenerated
Steam hydration
1. 300 degrees, 60 atm, phosphoric acid catalyst
2. reversible reaction with low yield
  1. ethene gas recycled to increase yield

Resource summary

	Created by cookietime over 10 years ago