What is the difference between and alkane and and alkene?

Alkane's are formed from carbon and hydrogen atoms, a compound known as a hydrocarbon, in single bonds. Alkenes are also hydrocarbons, but contain a double bond. In both compounds, Carbon must always bond to 4 other atoms meaning it will have 4 lines coming off it, Hydrogen only needs one. here you'd include a drawing to show the difference between the two As you can see, the number of Hydrogen atoms in an alkane, is double the number of Carbon atoms + 2 extra hydrogens. whereas alkenes don't have the 2 extra hydrogen atoms due to the double bond meaning the carbons still have 4 bonds. This can be expressed as: Alkanes CnH2n+2 and Alkenes CnH2n. A way I remember this, is that alkenes have the double bond because the Carbons hold on to each other extra tight! if student is unsure on how to name either, explain the "Monkeys Eat Purple Bananas, Penguins Hate Heavy Objects" way to remember them in order

Answered by Georgina H. Chemistry tutor

3787 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

85 cm^3 of 0.05 mol/dm^3 sulfuric acid is used to neutralise 15 cm^3 of sodium hydroxide of an unknown concentration. Given that the chemical formula of the reaction is 2NaOH + H2SO4 => NA2SO4 + 2H2O, find the concentration of the sodium hydroxide.


What is the general formula for drawing Alkanes


What is the difference between an ionic and covalent bond?


Explain what oxidation and reduction means in terms of electrons.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences