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Alkenes

Addition of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit AS 2

Overview

Recall questions on electrophilic addition of a hydrogen halide, why the molecule is already an electrophile, the equations and products for ethene, propene and the butenes, why but-2-ene gives one product but propene gives two, which is the major product, and which halide adds faster.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Why is a hydrogen halide molecule already an electrophile before it meets an alkene?

Key term

Write the equation for the reaction of ethene with hydrogen bromide and name the product.

Key term

Write the equation for the reaction of ethene with hydrogen chloride and name the product.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What type of reaction occurs between an alkene and hydrogen bromide?

    Model answer

    It is an electrophilic addition reaction, in which the hydrogen bromide adds across the carbon–carbon double bond.

  2. 2

    Why is a hydrogen halide molecule already an electrophile before it meets an alkene?

    Model answer

    The halogen is more electronegative than hydrogen, so the bond is permanently polar and the hydrogen atom carries a δ+ charge that is attracted to the electron-rich double bond.

  3. 3

    Write the equation for the reaction of ethene with hydrogen bromide and name the product.

    Model answer

    The equation is CH₂=CH₂ + HBr → CH₃CH₂Br, and the product is bromoethane.

  4. 4

    Write the equation for the reaction of ethene with hydrogen chloride and name the product.

    Model answer

    The equation is CH₂=CH₂ + HCl → CH₃CH₂Cl, and the product is chloroethane.

  5. 5

    State the conditions needed for a hydrogen halide to add to an alkene.

    Model answer

    The gases are simply mixed at room temperature, or the alkene is bubbled through the concentrated acid, and neither a catalyst nor light is required.

  6. 6

    Name the product formed when but-2-ene reacts with hydrogen chloride.

    Model answer

    The product is 2-chlorobutane.

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