What are the Differences between Alkenes and Alkynes

Last Updated on December 10, 2021 by QCity Editorial Stuff

In organic chemistry, there are two types of hydrocarbons: alkenes and alkynes. Alkenes have one carbon-carbon double bond, while alkynes have one carbon-carbon triple bond. Though both molecules contain carbon-carbon double bonds, the way these molecules react is different. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between alkenes and alkynes. We will start by discussing the skeletal structure of each molecule. Then, we will discuss the chemical properties of alkenes and alkynes. Finally, we will compare and contrast the two molecules.

The difference between alkanes and alkenes is that alkanes have a saturated hydrocarbon chain, while alkenes have at least one double bond. Alkynes are similar to alkenes but they have triple bonds rather than just a single or double bond. The simplest example of an alkene is ethylene, which has the formula C2H4. Ethane would be the simplest example of an alkane because it only contains single carbon-carbon bonds and does not contain any carbon-hydrogen multiple bonds; it also has the chemical formula CH3CH2CH3. 

Comparison between Alkenes and Alkynes

Parameters of ComparisonAlkenesAlkynes  
BondsAlkenes are hydrocarbons with one or more double bondsAlkynes are hydrocarbons with one or more triple bonds
Boiling pointHigher boiling pointLower boiling point
SystemAlkenes are hydrocarbonsalkynes are unsaturated
Made upAlkanes are made up of carbon chains that consist entirely of single bondsalkynes are just one type out of many different kinds of hydrocarbon chains that contain some kind of multiple bonds
MoleculesAlkene molecules have a C=CTriple bond

What is Alkenes?

Alkenes are organic compounds that contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Alkenes are usually hydrocarbons, but can also be cyclic. They can be found in many different industries, including the production of polymers and plastics. The reactivity of alkenes is very useful for chemical synthesis because it involves a single bond that can act as an electrophile or nucleophile to form new chains with other molecules. There are three main types of reactions involving alkenes: addition reactions, elimination reactions, and rearrangement reactions. These all depend on the type of functional group present in the molecule (such as alcohols) and where they’re located within the molecule (beginning or end). 

Alkenes are a type of hydrocarbon molecule that contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond. These molecules are important in both natural and synthetic chemistry and can be found in many different products. In this blog post, we will discuss the properties of alkenes, and explore some of the ways that they are used in everyday life. We will also take a look at some of the most common alkenes derivatives. Finally, we will outline some of the challenges associated with synthesizing alkenes.

Differences between Alkenes and Alkynes

What is Alkynes?

Alkynes are a type of hydrocarbon. Their chemical formula is CnH2n-2, where n is an integer. Alkynes have at least one carbon-to-carbon triple bond. They are rarely encountered in nature but can be artificially produced. Some important alkynes include acetylene and vinyl chloride. Alkynes are often used as industrial raw materials or intermediates. They can also be used as fuels or solvents.

Alkynes are organic compounds consisting of only carbon and hydrogen. The simplest alkynes are acetylene (ethene) and ethyne, also known as acetylene. Alkyne is a very reactive chemical that’s used in the production of polymers, pharmaceuticals, paints, solvents, plastics, and other materials.  Alkynes have several uses because they are so reactive with other chemicals. They can be used to make new products or break down old ones by using catalysts like acids or bases. Alkynes react quickly with almost anything else at room temperature without needing any kind of special equipment or training – making them an environmentally friendly choice for manufacturers who want to dispose of hazardous waste quickly without harming the environment.

Differences between Alkenes and Alkynes

10 Differences between Alkenes and Alkynes

1. Alkenes are hydrocarbons with one or more double bonds.

2. Alkynes are hydrocarbons with one or more triple bonds.

3. The main difference between alkenes and alkynes is the number of carbon atoms in each type of molecule – alkenes have two, while alkynes have three.

4. The chemical properties of these molecules also differ significantly – for example, alkenes react easily with halogens to form alkyl halides, while alkynes do not react at all with bromine water.

5. Alkene reactions can be differentiated from those of an alkynyl by looking at the product – if a reaction produces alcohol as its final product then it was likely to be an alkene reaction.

6. If there is no change in the molecular mass after the reaction has taken place then it was most likely an alkene reaction.

7. Alkenes are hydrocarbons and alkynes are unsaturated.

8. Alkene molecules have a C=C double bond, while alkyne molecules have a triple bond.

9. The reactivity of the two is different because alkanes can be synthesized from alkenes but not vice versa.

10. Alkanes can be converted to alcohols or ethers by using strong bases such as NaOH and KOH respectively, while alkynes cannot be converted to anything other than another type of compound with an additional reaction.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Alkenes

1. Alkenes are hydrocarbons with a double bond.

2. The word “alkene” is derived from the Greek word for “oily”.

3. A general formula for alkenes is CnH2n-2, where n can be any number.

4. To name an alkene, you must know what type of molecule it is and then add “-ene” to the end of that molecule’s name.

5. Alkenes have a higher boiling point than other alkanes because they have more carbons in them.

6. Alkynes have a triple bond instead of a double one.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Alkynes

1. Alkynes are hydrocarbons that contain at least one triple bond.

2. The most common alkynes are ethyne and acetylene.

3. Alkynes have the general formula CnH2n + x, where n is greater than 2 and x is a variable.

4. Acyclic alkynes can be found in crude oil or coal tar as well as natural gas liquids.

5. Cyclic alkynes such as benzene and cyclohexadiene are carcinogenic.

6. Acetylene has been used to make methanol, plastics, explosives, and even welding rods for decades now.

Conclusion

Alkenes and alkynes are two types of hydrocarbons. Alkanes, on the other hand, consist only of carbon and hydrogen atoms. -There is a difference in their chemical properties as well: alkenes contain at least one double bond; alkynes have triple bonds instead. -Alkenes react with oxygen to form molecules called oxides; this process can be used for industrial purposes such as making plastics or rubber tires. -Alkynes can also produce reactive molecules when they’re exposed to air, but these reactions don’t happen nearly as easily–they do so more slowly than those involving alkenes because there’s less opportunity for them to react with each other due to the lack of available hydrogen atoms.  

References:

Resource 01: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkene#:~:text
Resource 02: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/alkynes

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