Reaction of Alkanes and Alkenes with

Bromine Water
AIM: To determine the difference between the reactivity of alkanes and alkenes.
MATERIALS:

Bromine water
Pure cyclohexane
Pure cyclohexene
Molecular model kits
Test tubes
Measuring cylinders
Beakers

DISPOSAL: Place in an organic waste bottle, rinse the test tube and place rinse in an
organic waste bottle
RISK ASSESSMENT:
Chemical
Bromine Water

Risk
Not Hazardous according to Worksafe
Critieria, should not be ingested

Cyclohexane

Toxic by all routes of exposure, highly

flammable and vapour moderately toxic

Cyclohexene

Toxic by all routes of exposure, highly

flammable and vapour moderately toxic

Management
Use eye and skin protection
Use in a fume cupboard and
eye skin protection or use
in small amounts in a well
ventilated area
Use in a fume cupboard and
eye skin protection or use
in small amounts in a well
ventilated area

METHOD:
1. Place 3mL of Br water into 2 test tubes.
2. To one of the tubes add 3 drops of cyclohexane and shake the tube by flicking it
briskly.
3. To the other tube, add 3 drops of cyclohexane and shake the tube by flicking it
briskly.
4. Draw to diagram to illustrate observations.
5. Construct a model of cyclohexane and cyclohexene molecule, with a model kit.
VARIABLES:
o

Controlled variables:
1

Amount of Br water
Amount of Cyclohexane
Amount of Cyclohexene
Concentration of Br water
Temperature of surroundings
Air Pressure
Humidity of surroundings
Method of mixing chemicals (Flicking 3 times)

Dependent variable:
The amount of Br water required

Independent variable:
The alkane and alkenes

IMPROVING VALIDITY:

Repetition
Using a range of different Alkanes and Alkenes

IMPROVING RELIABILITY:

Repetition
Improving measurements
o Using a pipette to measure out the amount of bromine water, rather then a
measuring cylinder

RESULTS:

Bromine Water

Cyclohexane w/BW

Cyclohexene w/BW

DISCUSSION: Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of their double
bond. Alkenes go through what is called an addition reaction. It is where in an alkene; a
double bond is broken and replaced with two new covalent bonds added across double bond
where a foreign element/compound attaches itself.
2

E.g. Ethene + Bromine

1, 2 dibromoethane

As mentioned above this is described as an addition reaction because extra elements are
being added to the hydrocarbon and breaking the double bond. Alkanes go through a process
called a substitution reaction. The substitution needs the presence of UV light to go
through. An example is shown below:

E.g.

H
H
I
I
H C C H + Cl2
I
I
H
H

H Cl
UV
I
I
H C C H + HCl
I
I
H H

When for example Ethane and Bromine undergo a substitution reaction the compound HBr is
formed. This is due to one of the Br being substituted with an H on the hydrocarbon.
Therefore Br2 is broken into two, one atom goes and joins the hydrocarbon and the H which
the Br replaces attaches on to the free Br to make HBr.
CONCLUSION: Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes as seen in the results of this
experiment due to the presence of their double bond.