This introduction covers The Reactive Cousins within Alkenes for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Alkenes in Organic Chemistry for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 1 of 14 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 1 of 14
Practice
20 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
🛢️ The Reactive Cousins
Alkenes have a double bond — like having a spare hand ready to grab onto something! Alkanes use all their "hands" (bonds) holding hydrogens. Alkenes have two carbons sharing a double grip (C=C), so they can let go with one hand and grab something new. That's why they're so reactive — and perfect for making polymers!
The key difference is saturation. Alkanes are "saturated" — completely full of hydrogen atoms. Alkenes are "unsaturated" — they have a C=C double bond which can "open up" and add new atoms across it.
Without alkenes, we wouldn't have plastics, polymers, or many of the materials that make modern life possible. They're the building blocks that join together to make everything from plastic bottles to phone cases.