Further addition reactions of alkenes

Addition of hydrogen halides

A hydrogen halide adds across the double bond of an alkene to produce a halogenoalkane.

• Hydrogen halides include HCl, HBr and HI
• Hydrogen halides are gases at room temperature and are bubbled into liquid alkanes

Addition of steam

The addition of steam to alkenes is one method of preparing alcohols. This reaction is used widely in industry.

• Steam and the gaseous alkene are heated to high temperatures and pressure in the presence of a phosphoric acid catalyst
• The porocess is sometimes called the hydration of an alkene

Addition of unsymmetrical alkenes

Unsymmetrical alkenes  form a micture of organic…