Bromine Water Experiment

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Identify data, plan and perform a first-hand investigation to compare the reactivities of appropriate alkenes with the corresponding alkanes in bromine water[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]

  • Bromine water has a distinctive brown colour.
  • Saturated: Containing only single carbon-to-carbon bonds.
  • Unsaturated: Containing at least one double carbon-to-carbon bond.
  • Alkenes react spontaneously with bromine water due to their unsaturated nature.
    • The reaction between an alkene and bromine involves the breaking open of the alkene’s double bond and the inclusion of bromine in its structure (an addition reaction).
    • This results in the production of an alkane with two bromine functional groups.
    • Therefore, when alkenes come into contact with bromine water, they cause it to decolourise.
  • Alkanes do not react with spontaneously bromine water due to their saturated nature.
    • Bromine is non-polar and therefore dissolves more readily in a non-polar alkane than in polar water.
    • Therefore, when alkanes come into contact with bromine water, they cause it to decolourise, while they adopt the colour.
    • If placed in ultraviolet light, a substitution reaction may occur between an alkane and bromine water.
    • This results in the production of hydrogen bromide and an alkane with a single bromine functional group.
    • Therefore, when alkanes come into contact with bromine water and are exposed to ultraviolet light, both substances decolourise.
  • Cyclohexane and cyclohexene can be used to demonstrate these reactions.

 

Reaction of cyclohexene and bromine water

Structure of cyclohexene

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