Alkene Test

Key Stage 4

Meaning

The Alkene Test is a technique to identify whether a hydrocarbon contains two Carbon atoms with a double bond to one another.

About the Alkene Test

The alkene test identifies unsaturated hydrocarbons.

The alkene test is done by adding them to Bromine Water. If the Bromine Water turns from orange to colourless, then an unsaturated hydrocarbon, such as an alkene is present. During this test the Bromine reacts with the alkene to form a Bromoalkane.

Ethene + Bromine → Dibromoethane

<chem>C2H4 + Br2 -> C2H4Br2</chem>