大象传媒

Organic compounds - OCR GatewayAlkenes

The alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids are four different homologous series of organic compounds. Their different chemical properties are due to their characteristic functional groups.

Part of Chemistry (Single Science)Organic chemistry

Alkenes

The form a . Like all homologous series, the alkenes:

  • have the same
  • differ by CH2 in from neighbouring
  • show a gradual variation in physical , such as their
  • have similar chemical properties

General formula

The general formula for the alkenes is CnH2n (where n is the number of carbon atoms in the molecule).

Question

Decene is an alkene. Its contain 10 carbon . Predict the molecular formula of decene and explain your answer.

Question

Hexene is an alkene. Its molecules contain 6 carbon atoms. Predict the molecular formula of hexene.

Structures

The table shows four alkenes, their molecular formulae and their structures.

A table of four alkenes, including molecular formula, structure and the ball and stick model.
Figure caption,
Table showing four alkenes, their molecule formulae and their structures

The ball-and-stick models on the right show that the are not really at angles of 90掳, as shown in the displayed formulae. You may sometimes see bonds around the C=C bond at 120掳 in displayed formulae, as they are in the ball-and-stick models.

Notice that butene has two different forms called :

  • but-1-ene and but-2-ene have the same molecular formula, but
  • the position of their C=C bond is different.

The number in their names show where that bond is located in the molecule.

The alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons:

  • , because they are compounds containing hydrogen and carbon only
  • , because they contain a C=C double bond

The C=C bond is the in the alkenes. It is responsible for the typical reactions of alkenes.