ethane
propane
ethene
propene
Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds. Organic compounds characteristically contain more than one carbon, and the carbon atoms are bonded to one another.
There are many examples of organic compounds where adjacent carbon atoms share a one pair of electrons and are said to the joined by a single bond. Consider the alkanes ethane and propane,
There are many examples of organic compounds where adjacent carbon atoms share a one pair of electrons and are said to the joined by a single bond. Consider the alkanes ethane and propane,
Note that each carbon atom in these compounds is involved in four other bonds.
This is consistent with carbon (from Group ) has four electrons available for bonding.
Each hydrogen is involved in only one bond.
This is consistent with the one electron available for bonding on hydrogen
This is consistent with carbon (from Group ) has four electrons available for bonding.
Each hydrogen is involved in only one bond.
This is consistent with the one electron available for bonding on hydrogen
Adjacent carbon atoms may also share two pairs of electrons. This is referred to as a carbon-carbon double bond.In ethene the carbon atoms are linked by a double bond.
The total number of bonds to each carbon in ethene is four (as it is in ethane), BUT in ethene, only two of the bonds to each carbon are to hydrogen.
Alkenes are organic compounds containing one or more carbon-carbon double bond. Ethene is the simplest alkene.
Alkenes with more than two carbons (like propene) have carbon-carbon single bonds in addition to the carbon-carbon double bond.
Note that single bonds are represented as shown by drawing a line between the bonded atoms and that double bonds are represented by two lines drawn between the bonded atoms.
The double bond between the carbons is NEVER omitted even in structures that are shown in more condensed form.