Addition Reactions of Alkenes

Alkenes are hydrocarbons that contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.
Because of these double bonds, alkenes are generally more reactive than alkanes.
Alkenes undergo addition reactions, wherein the carbon-carbon double bond is broken, and new atoms are added to the carbon atoms.

Hydrogenation: The addition of hydrogen (H2) to an alkene in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel, converting the alkene to an alkane.
Halogenation: The addition of a halogen (X2) to an alkene forming a dihaloalkane. It’s usually a fast and exothermic reaction.
Hydrohalogenation: The addition of hydrogen halides (HX) to alkenes forming a haloalkane. The order of reactivity is HI > HBr > HCl > HF.
Hydration: The addition of water (H2O) in the presence of an acid catalyst to an alkene, forming an alcohol.

Hydrohalogenation of asymmetrical alkenes often yields two products due to possible different locations for the halogen. This phenomenon is also known as Markovnikov’s rule.
According to Markovnikov’s rule, the hydrogen is added to the carbon with the greater number of hydrogen atoms, while the halogen is added to the carbon with fewer hydrogen atoms.

Addition reactions of alkenes can lead to conformational isomers, depending on the spatial configuration of the substituents.
In the context of addition reactions, two major types of stereoisomers are possible: cis-isomers (same substituents on the same side) and trans-isomers (same substituents on opposite sides).

Alkene reactions, especially hydrogenation, are significant in industrial organic chemistry, particularly in the manufacture of polymers.
Additionally, many alkene reactions, such as hydration, have important applications in the production of biofuels.
Hydration reactions of alkenes are used in the industrial production of alcohols.