What is meant by terms 'saturated' and 'unsaturated' when applied to alkanes and alkenes? Describe a chemical test to distinguish between the liquids hexane and hexene.

Saturated – contains single bonds only.Unsaturated – contains one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.Shake each with bromine water. Hexene will decolorise bromine water, which will go from orange to colourless. With hexene, the bromine water remains orange.

KS
Answered by Kamile S. Chemistry tutor

7321 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain why alkenes can have stereoisomers


At room temperature and pressure, the first 4 alkanes are all gases, but the first 4 alcohols are all liquids. Explain this.


What is the definition of a Brownsted-Lowry acid?


Can you explain what stoichometry actually is and why the ratio is not the same as the number of moles?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning