Why are addition reactions of alkenes exothermic?

Question

Why are addition reactions of alkenes exothermic?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

5947 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-08-21T10:21:40

Well, you are making #"carbon-carbon"# or #"carbon-heteroatom"# bonds, and given this it is inevitably exothermic.

Explanation:

It is generally observed that bond formation is exothermic, and bond-breaking is endothermic. Olefin reactions generally involve the formation of #2xxC-X# bonds of some sort. Of course, we must break an #X-X# bond of some sort, but formation of #2xxC-X# bonds is energetically downhill.

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

Why are addition reactions of alkenes exothermic?

1 Answer

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question