alkenes
Double-bonded carbon chains
Alkenes are hydrocarbons containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond, making them more reactive than their single-bonded cousins, the alkanes.
The simplest alkene is ethylene, used industrially to make plastics and as a plant hormone that ripens fruit.
Alkenes are sometimes called olefins, particularly in petroleum chemistry.
The double bond allows alkenes to undergo addition reactions, where atoms attach across the bond to form new compounds.
Simplest alkene, C₂H₄
- propyleneUnsaturated three-carbon hydrocarbon
- butyleneC4H8 hydrocarbon gas
- cis-transIsomer position descriptors
- isomerismSame formula, different arrangements
vinyl · stereochemistry · conjugated · planar
Thermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- PVCChlorinated plastic abbreviation
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- polymerizationMonomers bonding into chains
thermoplastics · elastomers · monomer · copolymer · HDPE · rubber · Ziegler-Natta · plastics
Joining quantities mathematically
- hydrogenationBonding hydrogen to compounds
- catalystAgent enabling change
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
nucleophile · radical · hydration · bromination · oxidation · reduction · polymerization
Having one double bond
- polyunsaturatedMultiple double bonds present
- lipidsWater-insoluble biomolecules
- terpenesHydrocarbon plant compounds
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
limonene · squalene · chlorophyll · lycopene · beta-carotene · pheromones · biosynthesis
Breaking without separating completely
- naphthaVolatile petroleum-derived solvent
- steam-crackingHeat-fracturing hydrocarbons with vapor
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
distillation · catalytic · gasoline · diesel · aromatics · alkylation · isomerization · pyrolysis
Conjugated four-carbon diene
- solventsLiquids that dissolve substances
- surfactantsAgents reducing surface tension
- detergentsSurfactant cleaning agents
- adhesivesBonding substances
coatings · lubricants · antifreeze · styrene · ethanol · plasticizers · intermediates · synthesis
ethylene
Simplest alkene, C₂H₄
- propyleneUnsaturated three-carbon hydrocarbon
- butyleneC4H8 hydrocarbon gas
- cis-transIsomer position descriptors
isomerism · vinyl · stereochemistry · conjugated · planar
polyethylene
Thermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- PVCChlorinated plastic abbreviation
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
polymerization · thermoplastics · elastomers · monomer · copolymer · HDPE · rubber · Ziegler-Natta · plastics · resins
addition
Joining quantities mathematically
- hydrogenationBonding hydrogen to compounds
- catalystAgent enabling change
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
mechanism · nucleophile · radical · hydration · bromination · oxidation · reduction · polymerization
monounsaturated
Having one double bond
- polyunsaturatedMultiple double bonds present
- lipidsWater-insoluble biomolecules
- terpenesHydrocarbon plant compounds
carotenoids · limonene · squalene · chlorophyll · lycopene · beta-carotene · pheromones · biosynthesis
cracking
Breaking without separating completely
- naphthaVolatile petroleum-derived solvent
- steam-crackingHeat-fracturing hydrocarbons with vapor
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
feedstock · distillation · catalytic · gasoline · diesel · aromatics · alkylation · isomerization · pyrolysis · ethane
butadiene
Conjugated four-carbon diene
- solventsLiquids that dissolve substances
- surfactantsAgents reducing surface tension
- detergentsSurfactant cleaning agents
adhesives · coatings · lubricants · antifreeze · styrene · ethanol · plasticizers · intermediates · synthesis · manufacturing
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- organic compoundshydrocarbon, alcohol, alkane, ethane, propane
- hydrocarbonsmethane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane
- pyrolysis productscharcoal, char, wood tar, pine tar, tar
- Unsaturated Compoundsethylene, propene, propylene, butylene, hexene
- petroleumcrude oil, crude, petroleum, oil wells, oil fields