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3.4 Alkenes

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

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#1
Front (Question)

What is an alkene?

Back (Answer)

Unsaturated hydrocarbon with C=C double bond

#2
Front (Question)

What is the general formula of an alkene?

Back (Answer)

CnH2n

#3
Front (Question)

Why is there no rotation about the C=C double bond?

Back (Answer)

Due to pi orbital - electron density above and below the single bond, which holds the carbon atoms in place

#4
Front (Question)

Are they more or less reactive than alkanes. Why?

Back (Answer)

More reactive, due to high electron density of double bond and the fact the pi-bond is slightly easier to break

#5
Front (Question)

What intermolecular forces of attraction do they have.

Back (Answer)

Only VDW due to non-polar bonds

#6
Front (Question)

Are they soluble in water? Why?

Back (Answer)

No, non-polar bonds (VDW < Hydrogen bonding)

#7
Front (Question)

Name and describe the three kinds of isomers alkenes can have

Back (Answer)

Chain isomers (branched chains) Position isomer (C=C on different carbon atom) Geometric E-Z isomers (Z is when 2 highest atomic number chains are on the side of the double bond; E is when they’re on opposite sides)

#8
Front (Question)

Write an equation for the complete combustion of pent-2-ene.

Back (Answer)

CH3CH=CHCH2CH3 + 7 1/2O2 —> 5CO2 + 5H2O

#9
Front (Question)

What is an electrophile?

Back (Answer)

Electron deficient atoms/ions which accept a pair of electrons (here, from the C=C double bond)

#10
Front (Question)

What is the most stable type of carbocation intermediate? Why?

Back (Answer)

Alkyl groups have a positive inductive effect, so the most stable carbonation is the one bonded to the most other atoms i.e. a tertiary carbocation

#11
Front (Question)

Major products will be formed from which kinds of carbocations?

Back (Answer)

Tertiary (or the most stable available)

#12
Front (Question)

What conditions are needed for the electrophilic addition of H2O to an alkene?

Back (Answer)

Acid catalyst, usually phosphoric acid

#13
Front (Question)

What are the product(s) of the reaction?

Back (Answer)

An alcohol

#14
Front (Question)

Draw a mechanism for the addition of water to ethene

Back (Answer)

Slide 30

#15
Front (Question)

What conditions are needed for the electrophilic addition of a hydrogen halide to an alkene?

Back (Answer)

Room temperature

#16
Front (Question)

Draw a mechanism for the reaction of HBr and ethene?

Back (Answer)

Slide 34

#17
Front (Question)

What conditions are needed for the electrophilic addition of a halogen molecule to an alkene?

Back (Answer)

Room temperature and organic solvent

#18
Front (Question)

How does a molecule with a non-polar bond react as if it is an electrophile

Back (Answer)

C=C double bond with a high electron density induces a temporary dipole in the halogen molecule —> 𝛿+ atom attracted to double bond

#19
Front (Question)

Draw a mechanism for the reaction between bromine and ethene

Back (Answer)

Slide 40

#20
Front (Question)

Draw a mechanism for the reaction of sulfuric acid with ethene

Back (Answer)

Slide 41

#21
Front (Question)

How would you turn the product (from sulferic acid + ethene) into an alcohol and how does this show that sulfuric acid catalysed the addition of water to an alkene?

Back (Answer)

Add water H2SO4 reforms showing it catalyses the hydration of alkenes

#22
Front (Question)

What is an addition polymer?

Back (Answer)

Many monomers bonded together via rearrangement of bonds without loss of any atom or molecule

#23
Front (Question)

What are monomers? What form do they usually take?

Back (Answer)

Molecules which combine to form a polymer Usually have a C=C bond which breaks to leave a repeating pattern

#24
Front (Question)

Draw how you would represent the polymerisation of ethene

Back (Answer)

Slide 50