Chemistry Practical Report - # 1 Bayan

Hosseini 12CH3

Reaction of Alkanes and Alkenes with

Bromine Water
Partners: Daniel, David and Mark
Date: Wednesday 15th October 2008
Experiment 1
Number:

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 Risk Management

Not Hazardous according to Worksafe Use eye and skin
Bromine Water Critieria, should not be ingested protection
Use in a fume cupboard
and eye skin protection or
Toxic by all routes of exposure, highly use in small amounts in a
Cyclohexane flammable and vapour moderately toxic well ventilated area
Use in a fume cupboard
and eye skin protection or
Toxic by all routes of exposure, highly use in small amounts in a
Cyclohexene flammable and vapour moderately toxic 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:
• 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)

o Dependent variable:
• The amount of Br water required

o 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.

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:

H H H Cl
I I UV I I
E.g. H–C–C – H + Cl2 H – C – C – H + HCl
I I I I
H H 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.