Compare and Contrast the properties and reactions of Butane and But-1-ene

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  Chemistry Essay

Butane, Butene and all isomers that come with them are considered to be alkanes and alkenes respectively. They differ from each other in the fact that Butane contains only single bonds, whereas Butene has both single and one double bond. Regardless of this difference in many situations the two molecules can display similar behaviours.

For the purposes of this comparison But-1-ene will be used as ‘Butene’ unless otherwise indicated. But-1-ene is almost identical to the other 3 isomers of Butene  and hence makes a good molecules for comparison of the Butene group.

Butene and Butane are both found to be extremely flammable gasses at Standard temperature and pressure, they will readily react with oxygen according to the following equations:

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C4H10+13O2  8CO2 + 10H2O

C4H8+6O2 4CO2 + 4H2O

Both of these reactions are very exothermic in nature. Inducing Fluorine in excess into a container of Butene will precipitate a addition reaction when the double bond between Carbons 1 and 2 is broken and attached to Carbons 1 and Two is Fluorine, creating CH2FCHFCH2CH3 or 1,2-diflurobutane

Whereas the induction of a halogen in excess into a container of Butane will result in a substitution reaction where the electronegativity of the Fluorine causes one of the hydrogens to detach from the parent molecule and attach to the sister Fluorine resulting in Hydrogen ...

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