ALKENES Meaning and
Definition
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Alkenes are a class of organic compounds that consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms with a double bond between two carbon atoms. They are unsaturated hydrocarbons and belong to the larger group of aliphatic hydrocarbons. The presence of a carbon-carbon double bond gives alkenes distinctive chemical properties and reactions.
The general formula for alkenes is CnH2n, where "n" represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. Alkenes can have a linear or branched structure, and the carbon atoms bonded to the double bond are said to be sp2-hybridized.
The double bond in alkenes can undergo various reactions, making them highly reactive. They can undergo addition reactions, where atoms or groups of atoms add to the carbon atoms of the double bond, resulting in the formation of new chemical compounds. This reactivity makes alkenes important in various industrial processes, such as the production of plastics, rubber, and other synthetic materials.
Alkenes also play a crucial role in the field of organic chemistry as starting materials for the synthesis of more complex molecules. They can be used to introduce functional groups, such as alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and amines, among others, through different chemical transformations.
Moreover, alkenes are commonly found in nature, being produced by various organisms as a part of their metabolic processes. They can be found in plant oils, fatty acids, and other natural products.
Common Misspellings for ALKENES
Etymology of ALKENES
The word "alkenes" has its roots in organic chemistry. The term "alkene" originated from the word "alkyl" (referring to a type of hydrocarbon) and the suffix "-ene" (indicating the presence of a carbon-carbon double bond in the chemical structure).
The word "alkyl" comes from the German word "alcohol" (Alkohol in German), which was derived from the Arabic word "al-kuhul" meaning "fine powder". The Arabic word was used to refer to the substance commonly known as antimony trisulfide. Over time, "alcohol" came to be used more broadly to describe any distilled substance with a concentrated essence.
In the early 19th century, German chemist Justus Liebig introduced the term "alkyl" to describe a type of hydrocarbon derived from alcohol.
