Unsaturated fats change bromine water from orange to colourless. How?

Unsaturated fats usually have a C=C double bond, e.g. vegetable oil. So, it's 'unstable' because of the high concentration of negative charge (electrons). Bromine (B2) is not polarised. However, as it approaches the double bond, it polarises. We can this a permanent dipole to induced dipole reaction. Bromine than attaches to the hydrocarbon creating halogenated hydrocarbons (Bromine is a halogen). Since bromine is added on, we call this an addition reaction. This helps separate alkanes from alkenes. Diagram will help explain.

AC
Answered by Abi C. Chemistry tutor

10116 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why is methylamine a stronger base than aminobenzene?


Why is phenol more easily nitrated than Benzene?


How does electrophilic aromatic substitution occur?


What is the rate-determining step?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning