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

9741 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What are covalent bonds?


Why is there a difference in mechanism between tertiary halogenoalkanes and primary halogenoalkanes in nucleophilic substitution?


Calculate the pH change when water is added to 25.0 ml of 0.250M NaOH to form a 1.00l solution.


Flask Q (volume = 1.00 x 103 cm3 ) is filled with ammonia (NH3) at 102 kPa and 300 K. The tap is closed and there is a vacuum in flask P. (Gas constant R = 8.31 J K−1 mol−1 ) Calculate the mass of ammonia


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