How to Detect Double Bonds in Organic Compounds
Understand the science you'll be using., Take a beaker and carefully pour into it a small amount of bromine., Take an alkene compound and pour it into the bromine., Observe the color of bromine.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand the science you'll be using.
Under normal conditions, bromine is a toxic yellow-orange liquid.
Alkenes react easily summing bromine to the C-C double bonds originating brominated hydrocarbons which are colorless.
On the other side saturated hydrocarbon don't react easily with halogens so it's possible to detect alkenes or compound containing unsaturated C-C bonds by observing a color change in bromine when an organic compound is mixed with it.
If the solution goes colorless, presence of double bonds is detected. -
Step 2: Take a beaker and carefully pour into it a small amount of bromine.
Remember to wear protective glasses and gloves and to protect your skin form accidental contacts with bromine which is a strong corrosive agent.
Don't drink or eat while performing the experiment., Wait while the reaction takes place., If the color is still orange, the organic compound has no C-C double bond in its structure.
If the bromine went colorless, the organic compound involved has one or more double bonds in its molecule. -
Step 3: Take an alkene compound and pour it into the bromine.
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Step 4: Observe the color of bromine.
Detailed Guide
Under normal conditions, bromine is a toxic yellow-orange liquid.
Alkenes react easily summing bromine to the C-C double bonds originating brominated hydrocarbons which are colorless.
On the other side saturated hydrocarbon don't react easily with halogens so it's possible to detect alkenes or compound containing unsaturated C-C bonds by observing a color change in bromine when an organic compound is mixed with it.
If the solution goes colorless, presence of double bonds is detected.
Remember to wear protective glasses and gloves and to protect your skin form accidental contacts with bromine which is a strong corrosive agent.
Don't drink or eat while performing the experiment., Wait while the reaction takes place., If the color is still orange, the organic compound has no C-C double bond in its structure.
If the bromine went colorless, the organic compound involved has one or more double bonds in its molecule.
About the Author
Douglas Butler
Specializes in breaking down complex home improvement topics into simple steps.
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