Question detail
What is the purpose of bromine water in organic chemistry?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock
Question
- A. To test for the presence of alkenes
- B. To test for the presence of alkanes
- C. To test for the presence of alcohols
- D. To test for the presence of carboxylic acids
Answer
To test for the presence of alkenes
Explanation
Bromine water is used to test for alkenes because it reacts with them, causing a color change.
Common mistake
Misidentifying Bromine Water Reaction
Students think bromine water reacts with alkanes, giving a colour change, and therefore use it to test for alkanes.
Bromine water reacts only with alkenes (and alkynes) because the π bond is attacked, causing the orange–brown colour to disappear. Alkanes lack π bonds and do not react with bromine water, so the colour remains unchanged. Remind students that the test is specific for unsaturated hydrocarbons, not saturated ones.
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