Alkenes react with H
2 by addition in the presence of a Pt (platinum) or Pd (palladium) catalyst. This reaction is referred to as
hydrogenation.

All reactions that have elements as reactants are redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions. H
2 is a reductant, and the alkene is said to have been reduced because both carbons of the double bond bear more H in the product.
An alkane can be prepared from an alkene using hydrogenation as shown in Reaction 1,
Alkenes are converted into alcohols on reaction with H
2SO
4 and then with H
2O. The reaction is initiated by reaction of the alkene with H
+ to give a carbocation.

This can react with either
–OSO
2OH to give an alkyl hydrogensulfate ester ROSO
2OH which then reacts with water (hydrolyses), or with H-OH. In either case, the overall outcome is addition of water to the alkene.
Both alkenes below are symmetrical and give rise to only one product as shown below.
Reaction 3:
CH
3CH
2CH=CHCH
2CH
3

Reaction 4:
CH
3CH=CHCH
3
