Organic Chemistry – Chapter 10
Alkenes
Functional group – The atom/group of atoms that are responsible for the characteristic reactions of a compound
Here is the functional group of an alkene:
The carbon double bond shows that it is an alkene
General formula: CnH2n
Here are the first 4 alkenes:
Describe how alkenes react with oxygen:
Complete combustion: alkene + oxygen --> Carbon dioxide + water
e.g. C2H4(g) + 3O2(g) --> 2CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
incomplete combustion: alkene + oxygen --> Soot (C) + water OR alkene + oxygen --> Carbon
monoxide (CO) + water
Describe in general terms the addition reactions of alkenes:
Describe the reactions and conditions for the addition of
hydrogen to alkenes:
Alkene + Hydrogen --> alkane
E.g. Propene + hydrogen --> propane
Requires: 60C temp + nickel catalyst
This is called hydrogenation (the addition of hydrogen molecules that are added across carbon to carbon double
bonds)
Describe the reactions and conditions for the addition of water to alkenes:
Alkene + water (steam) --> alcohol
E.g. Butene + water --> butanol
Requires: 300C temp, high
pressure and a catalyst
This is called hydration (a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a substance)
Describe the reactions and conditions for the addition of halogens to alkenes:
Alkene + halogen --> Dihaloalkane
E.g. Ethene + Bromine --> dibromoethane Name Scheme:
Di fluoro alkane (halogen: florine)
Di chloro alkane (halogen: chlorine
Di iodo alkane (halogen: iodine)
Di bromo alkane (halogen: bromine)
Alcohols
The functional Group for alcohols are -OH.
Here are the first 4 alcohols:
General formula: CnH2n+1OH
Describe what happens when the first 4 alcohols react with sodium:
Sodium + alcohol --> salt + hydrogen
E.g. sodium + ethanol → sodium ethoxide + hydrogen
2Na + 2C2H5OH → 2C2H5ONa + H2
Methanol --> methoxide
Ethanol --> ethoxide
Propanol --> propoxide
butanol --> butoxide
Describe what happens when any of the first four alcohols burn in air:
Alcohols are very flammable
Complete combustion: alcohol + oxygen --> Carbon dioxide + water
E.g. 2CH2OH + 3O2 --> 2CO + 4H2O
incomplete combustion: alcohol + oxygen --> Soot (C) + water OR alcohol + oxygen --> Carbon
monoxide (CO) + water
Describe what happens when any of the first four alcohols are added to water:
Alcohols are miscible which means that it mixes completely with water. The PH of ethanol is neutral which can be
seen by adding universal indicator.
As the alcohol molecule size increases, the solubility of that alcohol decreases.
Describe what happens when any of the first four alcohols react with an oxidising agent:
ethanol + oxidising agent --> ethanoic acid + water
CH3CH2OH + 2[O] → CH3COOH + H2O
It uses an oxidising agent called potassium dichromate which is orange in colour. It reacts to form a carboxylic acid.
After the reaction there is a colour change from orange to green.
Uses of alcohol:
Used in perfumes as a solvent
can be used as an alternative fuel - because Flammable
alcoholic beverages
Describe how ethanol is produced using fermentation, including the conditions for the reaction:
Sugar is dissolved in water and yeast is added to be fermented at 30°C with the absence of oxygen for a few days.
Zymase enzymes (from yeast) are used as biological catalysts to break down sugar into glucose. The yeast respires
anaerobically to form:
Glucose → Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide
C6H12O6 --> 2C2H5OH 2CO2
Carboxylic acids
The functional Group for carboxylic acids are -COOH.
General formula: CnH2n+1COOH
Describe what happens when any of the first four carboxylic acids react with carbonates:
Carboxylic acid + carbonate --> salt + water + carbon dioxide
E.g. Ethanoic acid + calcium carbonate --> calcium ethanoate + water + carbon dioxide
Any salt that comes out of this reaction must end in oate
Describe what happens when any of the first four carboxylic acids dissolve in water:
When a carboxylic acid dissolves in water it forms an acidic solution with a PH less than 7.
Describe what happens when any of the first four carboxylic acids react with alcohols:
Alcohol + Carboxylic acid --> ester + water
E.g. Ethanol + butanoic acid --> butyl ethanoate + water
Alcohols and carboxylic acids react to make esters in esterification reactions with a strong acid catalyst, usually
concentrated sulfuric acid.
Carboxylic acids are weak acids because they only partially ionise in solution. Their solutions do not contain many
hydrogen ions compared to a solution of a strong acid at the same concentration. A weak acid's pH will be higher
than a strong acid's pH at the same concentration.
The functional Group for esters is -COO-.
Esters have fruity smells and can be used as solvents. They are volatile (low boiling points) and are used in
perfumes and flavourings. Here is how to make an Ester
