Understanding Alkenes: Properties, Reactions, and Applications in the Chemical Industry

Alkene

An organic compound with a carbonyl group of which the carbon atom is bonded to two other carbons.

An alkene is a hydrocarbon with a double bond between two adjacent carbon atoms in its molecular structure. They are unsaturated compounds that contain at least one carbon-to-carbon double bond. Alkenes are also called olefins and are classified as unsaturated because they have one or more double bonds, which can react with other chemicals such as hydrogen or halogens. Their chemical formula is CnH2n (where “n” is the number of carbon atoms in the molecule).

The double bond between the carbon atoms in an alkene is shorter than a single bond and stronger, which gives alkenes unique properties such as higher boiling points and melting points than alkanes with the same number of carbon atoms. Additionally, because of the presence of double bonds, alkenes can undergo addition reactions with electrophiles, such as hydrogen, halogens, or water, to form saturated compounds.

One of the most common and important reactions of alkenes is polymerization, where the double bond between two adjacent carbon atoms in the alkene molecule is used to link individual alkene molecules together into a larger molecule. This creates polyethylene, which is a plastic that is widely used in everyday life.

Alkenes are widely used in the chemical industry as raw materials to produce a variety of other compounds such as plastics, synthetic fibers, and solvents.

More Answers: