Uses of Alkenes in daily life

Abu Dhabi University

Mohammed Abdullah, 1054540

Dr. Jolly Jacob, Associate Professor of Chemistry, College of Arts and

Science, Abu Dhabi University

Introduction:

In organic chemistry, an alkene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon that contains only carbon and

hydrogen atoms in their molecules. Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that means they

contain one or more than one double bond between two carbon atoms. This double bond is

represented by the symbol “=”. The alkenes are also widely known as “olefins”. The general

structural formula of alkenes is CnH2n and they have at least one double bond. Alkenes usually

have the suffix “ene” at the end of their name. The most simplest alkene is ethene C2H4 with a

two carbon atoms attached with a double bond.

Alkenes

Ethene C2H4

Propene C3H6

Butene C4H8

Hexene C6H10

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 Cycloalkenes are another type of alkenes which has rings of carbon atoms bonded together and

inside the rings it contains one or more double bonds. The cycloalkenes have a different formula

than the alkenes and their general formula is CnH2(n-m). The letter m represents the number of

double bond in the cycloalkenes. The formula of cyclobutene is C4H6 and the formula of

cyclopentane is C5H8[Nis]. This research report aims to provide a deep analysis of the uses of

alkene compounds and how they are produced and how they benefit us and provide an

alternative if these compounds have some negative impacts in environment.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Alkenes:

The physical state of alkenes is mainly dependent on the number of carbon atoms present in their

molecules. The alkenes with 2 to 4 carbon atoms in their structure are in gaseous state, the

alkenes with 5 to 16 in them are in liquid state, and lastly the alkenes with higher than that are in

solid state. The alkenes have the nearly same boiling point as the alkenes. For example, butene is

a gas and pentene is liquid. Alkenes are mainly used for their addition reaction with hydrogen,

where the double bond is broken to form ethane. When ethene reacts with water it also forms

alcohol(ethanol). Alkenes also have many other important chemical reactions[Nat16].

Alkene production and how they are formed:

Creating alkenes in mass was a big challenged for the industries back in the time as the process

of creating alkenes were complicated. Nowadays alkenes are created by a process called

cracking. In the cracking process, large hydrocarbons are broken into smaller and more useful

bits of molecules. This process is completed by using very high temperature and high pressure

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 without catalyst and we apply some catalyst the temperature and pressure is comparatively

decreases. For example, if a large molecule of alkane (C15H32) is broken by cracking process then

it produces ethene, propene, and octene. Nowadays modern industries use the catalyst called

zeolites. These catalysts are complex aluminosilicates, and are large lattices of aluminum,

silicon, and oxygen atoms that carries negative charge. The alkanes carry the reaction in the

presence of zeolites at around 500 Degree Celsius and moderately low pressures. This process is

called catalytic cracking. There is another type of cracking where high temperature and pressure

is applied to break up the large molecules of hydrocarbons. This type of cracking occurs at

around 450 to 750 degrees Celsius and pressure of about 70 atmospheres. This process is known

as thermal cracking. LPG, Petroleum, Paraffin, Diesel, Heating oil, Fuel oil, Bitumen are all

products of cracking alkenes.

Industrial Importance of Alkenes

 Plastic Synthesis:
Plastic is one of most important invention of chemistry in our daily life. Mostly

everything we see around us has plastic in it. For example, the plastic chairs, toys, tiffin

boxes, wrappers, furniture, televisions, car interior etc. Plastic can be produced to fit

specifications of any application or situation around us. Ethylene monomers are

produced by the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons called naphtha as a result different

hydrocarbons are produced including alkenes. Polyethene and polypropene are the most

produced polymeric material. Polymerization reaction of alkene are carried out for plastic

synthesis. The polyethenes prepare at medium to low pressure has mechanical stability

because of their high density and unbranched chains.

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  Removal of Oil Spills:
Alkenes play a very important role in removal of oil spills from oceans. Oil spill occurs

the oil tankers leak oil in oceans due to carelessness and this oil spill completely destroys

the aquatic habitats and ecological balances. It is seen that in Exxon Valdez spill due to

the toxic effect of oil the animals and plant life was hampered for years. The industries

tried to come with a proper alternative that could dissolve this oil molecules but they

failed as they were harmful for the environment. Lastly, they discovered the

polyisobutene that could solve their problems related to oil spill. Polyisobutene is the

main ingredient which plays an important role in eliminating the oil spills. Polyisobutene

is the main component present in the product called Elastol of United States. Elastol is a

powerful, non-toxic polymeric agent that removes oil spill. For an instance if oil is mixed

with Elastol, it pulls the oil into a compact mat, which can be recovered by a suction

pump later. Elastol increases its viscosity as a result oil doesn’t remain mixed with water

and it accumulate to build a compact mat.[Joh91]

 Important organic chemicals produced from alkenes:
1. Alcohol: Ethanol is produced from the hydration reaction of ethenes and water

molecules. Ethanol is used as biofuel for cars, solvent and as alcoholic drinks.
2. Ethelene glycol: Ethylene oxide is synthesized by the oxidation of ethylene to

produce ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is the typical antifreeze used in the car

which helps the car engine not freeze in the winter and it also helps the car engine

not to overheat. Ethylene glycol is also used as a raw material for polyester

clothing, furniture and car upholstery.

3. Acetic acid: Acetic acid is produced by oxidation of alkenes and alkanes. Acetic

acid is used in industrial fields for making cellulose acetate and metal acetates.

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 Acetic acid is also used in medical fields to treat the ear infections and many other

treatments also. Acetic acid is also used to make esters that are used as inks,

colors and paints.

4. Vinyl acetate: Vinyl acetate is produced mainly from ethylene and acetic acid .

Vinyl acetate is a very important chemical which is used in creating all type of

coatings, paints, adhesives, etc. Poly vinyl acete is used for its adhesion property.

Poly vinyl alcohol is used in textile for packaging and for applying coatings.

[Sic07]
5. Polypropylene: Polymerization of propylene produces polypropylene.

Polypropylene is used for kitchen wares, storage boxes, disposable bottles, chairs,

furniture, etc. Polypropylene have many advantages for which it is used in our

day to day life. Polypropylene is very cheap and it can be afforded by everyone. It

is also very strong and flexible which makes it take any shape[DrD16].

 Poly Vinyl Chloride(PVC): Poly Vinyl Chloride is a very important chemical that

is produced by the polymerization reaction of ethylene with chlorine which gives

ethylene dichloride that at very high temperature convert into poly vinyl chloride. PVC

has many uses when it comes for building works and constructions, they are mainly used

as the water pipes that are water resistance and are very efficient for water systems. Wires

are also sometimes insulated by PVC coating as they are weather proof. PVC blood bags

also a crucial element for the hospitals as these bags are flexible and remain cool. PVC

are also used for household product to keep them weatherproof and away from dust and

rain. [Cch]

 For Making Non-Sticky Pan and Creating Water sealant:

Tetrafluoroethylene is used to make Teflon tapes for water pipes and as water sealants. It

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 is also used to make non-sticky frying pans. Chlorodifluoromethane is heated in absence

of air to give tetrafluoroethylene.

 Benzene and its industrial importance:

Benzene are mostly used for industrial purposes as they assist in making plastics,

detergents, pesticides, drugs, glues, tobacco, etc. Mostly benzenes are produced from our

petroleum or crude oil usage. Benzene has pros and cons as they can contaminate

drinking water and are considered as human carcinogen. Ethyl benzene are used to

produce polystyrene for packaging, wrapping, coating, etc. Cumene is used to produce

phenol which is used as weed killer such as 2-4 dichlorophonoxyacetic acid), resins and

plastics also. Cyclohexane is also a type of benzene which is used for nylon production.

[Gre17]

Negative Impacts of alkenes in the environment

Hydrocarbons not only has positive impacts on human life but they also have some

limitations hidden in themselves. The aromatic compounds such as the benzene, phenol,

etc. are human carcinogen. The benzenes have capability to cause cancer with prolonged

exposure to it. It is scientifically proven people with prolonged exposure to benzene

suffer often from cancer and leukemia. Anemia, infertility, drowsiness, headaches,

vomiting are all reported due to the exposure of benzene in humans. Drinking water also

gets contaminated with direct exposure of benzene this is called arsenic pollution. The

ozone layer is also damaged due to the adverse reaction of O3 and the different alkenes.

Monstrous oil slicks are an undeniable wellspring of harm to biological communities and

human wellbeing, obstructing pores, repressing respiratory capacities and harming

creatures who ingest them. Oil is not just negative in expansive spills; little outflows from

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 car spills and various sources can have aggregate impacts that can be extremely harming

to the earth.[Wis17]

Conclusion:
To sum up, alkenes are double bonded carbon and hydrogen atoms which are the main

source of energy and fuel in the world. All the cars, machines, generators around the

world supply power by burning these alkene components. Currently we are very much

depended on these alkene hydrocarbons which is increasing global warming and are also

creating different ecological problems. To keep the environment safe we need to look for

other alternatives of hydrocarbons which are safe for environment.

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