15.3    Introduction to Alkenes

What is an alkene?

• Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons which contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond(C=C) bond. They form the homologous series with the general formula of CnH2n.
• The physical properties of alkenes are similar to that of alkanes
• Alkenes can exhibit both structural and stereoisomerism. This is due to the rotation-restricting double bond. The isomers of C4H8 are: