STRUCTURE OF ALKENES
Alkenes
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons: alkene
KEY POINTS
Alkenes contain a
molecules contain at least one carbon to carbon double carbon-to-carbon double
bond. bond.
Aliphatic alkenes that contain one double bond have the
general formula CₙH₂ₙ The general formula for
The first three members of the alkene homologous series aliphatic alkenes with
are shown below: one double bond is
CₙH₂ₙ
Each carbon has four
electrons in its outer
shell allowing it to form
4 bonds.
A carbon-to-carbon
double bond contains a
pi bond.
Alkenes can also be branched or cyclic. While branched
alkenes obey the general formula, cyclic alkenes and A pi bond is a sideways
alkenes with more than one double bond do not. overlap of p-orbitals.
Each carbon atom has four electrons in its outer shell
and can use these electrons to form bonds. GLOSSARY
Pi bonds lock the two
For each carbon atom in a double bond, three of the carbon atoms in
Aliphatic Containing carbon
position.
four electrons are use in 3 sigma bonds. One to the atoms joined together in
other carbon and two to other atoms (Carbon or unbranched (straight) or
hydrogen). branched
Thechains.
bond angle around
This leaves one electron for a pi bond. Each carbon a carbon atomcarbon
in a
Alicyclic Containing
contributes an electron to the pi bond.
atoms joined together120
double bond is in a ring
A pi bond is the sideways overlap of p-orbitals. that does not contain a
The pi bond locks the two carbon atoms in position and benzene ring (not aromatic).
prevents them from rotating around the double bond.
Pi Bond A sideways overlap of
p-orbitals.
Alkene Unsaturated
THE SHAPE AROUND A DOUBLE BOND
hydrocarbon containing at
The shape around each of the carbon atoms in a least one carbon-to-carbon
double bond Is trigonal planar, because: double bond.
There are three regions of electron density around Hydrocarbon A compound
each carbon atom. containing carbon and
The three regions repel each other as far apart as hydrogen only.
possible, so the bond angle around each carbon
atom is 120 degrees. General Formula The
All atoms are on the same plane. simplest algebraic ratio of
atoms of each element in
compounds of the same
homologous series.
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