Question detail
Describe the process of electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide to an alkene. What are the major products formed?
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Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Alkenes
Question
Describe the process of electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide to an alkene. What are the major products formed?
Answer
Electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide to an alkene involves the attack of the electrophile (H+) on the double bond, forming a carbocation intermediate. The bromide ion (Br-) then attacks the carbocation, resulting in the formation of a bromoalkane as the major product.
Explanation
This answer demonstrates an understanding of the electrophilic addition mechanism and the formation of products. It tests the student's ability to outline the reaction process and identify the major product formed from the addition of hydrogen bromide to an alkene.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Electrophilic Addition
Students often confuse the electrophilic addition mechanism with nucleophilic substitution, failing to recognize that electrophiles attack the double bond in alkenes.
To clarify, remember that electrophilic addition involves the attack of an electrophile on the C=C bond. For example, in the reaction with hydrogen bromide (HBr), the electrophile (H+) adds to one carbon atom of the double bond, while the bromide ion (Br-) adds to the other. This can be outlined as follows: 1. **Formula/Rule**: Electrophilic addition of HBr to an alkene follows the rule that the electrophile attacks the double bond. 2. **Substitution**: For an alkene like ethene (C2H4), the reaction is C2H4 + HBr. 3. **Working**: The double bond opens up, and H+ attaches to one carbon, forming a carbocation, while Br- attaches to the other carbon. 4. **Answer**: The product is bromoethane (C2H5Br). 5. **Units/Conclusion**: The reaction shows how alkenes react with electrophiles, resulting in saturated products.
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