Alkanes and Alkenes Lab

NAME: Xavier Merritt
DATE: 10/12/2021
TITLE: Identifying alkanes and alkenes
AIM: To distinguish between an alkane and an alkene using various confirmatory tests.
APPARATUS: Test tubes, Bunsen burner, test tube holder, 2 spatulas.
MATERIALS: Beaker with sample A, beaker with sample B, Br2(aq.), KMnO4/H+(aq.).
Test Observations with A Observations with B

1. Heat was applied to a small Smoky orange flame. Smoky orange flame.
amount of the sample in a Black smoke formed Intense black smoke formed.
spatula until it ignited.
2. A few drops of No reaction occurred. The Changes from purple to
KMnO4/H+(aq) was added to a potassium permanganate colourless (decolourises).
small amount of the sample in does not mix with sample A
a test tube and shaken gently. and stays as a separate layer.
Changes to pale pink while
mixing.
3. A few drops of Br2(aq) were Changes from red-brown to Changes from red-brown to
added to a small amount of the pale orange. colourless (decolourises).
sample in a test tube and
shaken gently.
DISCUSSION: When alkenes burn, they give of a sootier flame than alkanes as they have a
higher ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms in their molecules than alkanes. As heat was applied to
Sample A until it ignited in test 1, the product was a smoky orange flame along with black
smoke. As heat was applied to Sample B however, a smoky orange flame, along with intense
black smoke was produced. The smoke produced by Sample B was greater than the smoke
produced by Sample A. In test 2, it was observed that when a few drops of KMnO4/H+(aq) was
added to a small amount of Sample A in a test tube and gently shaken, there was no visible
reaction. The potassium permanganate did not mix with Sample A and created a layer above the
liquid. As the solution was shaken, the colour of the solution changed to pale pink, however,
after some time, the solution separated back into two layers. After a few drops of KMnO4/H+(aq)
was added to a small amount of Sample B in a test tube and shaken gently, the solution changed
from purple to colourless. Potassium permanganate acts as an oxidizing agent when reacting with
an alkene which results in the potassium permanganate decolourising. However, potassium
permanganate does not react with alkanes since they are saturated. In test 3, after a few drops of
Br2(aq) were added to a small amount of the sample in a test tube and shaken gently, the colour of
the solution changed from red-brown to pale orange. After a few drops of Br2(aq) was added to a
small amount of the sample in a test tube and shaken gently, the colour of the solution changed
from red-brown to colourless. Bromine does not react with alkanes as there a carbon-to-carbon
single bonds within them and those bonds can only be broken by adding light energy. However,
bromine will react with alkenes as they contain carbon-to-carbon double bonds which are weaker
than the single bonds and can be broken to undergo an addition reaction.
Since the alkene and alkane present were not specified, the alkene used for the equations below
was ethene (C2H4) and the alkane used for the equations below was methane (CH4).
The equations for the three different tests/reactions are:
Sample A:
Test 1: CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)
Test 2: No reaction occurred
Test 3: No reaction occurred

Sample B:
Test 1- C2H4 (g) + 3O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)
Test 2- C2H4 (g) + H2O(l) + [O] → C2H4(OH)2 (l), where [O] is potassium permanganate
Test 3- C2H4+ Br2 → C2H4Br2
PRECAUTIONS:
 Three different tests were done to ensure that the correct sample was concluded to be the
alkane or alkene.
LIMITATIONS:
 Environmental factors. The wind, humidity, etc may affect the samples when trying to
ignite them.
REFLECTION: The identification of alkanes and alkenes will be useful in everyday life as it
helps companies know which hydrocarbon will be a better fuel, which one would make a better
polyethene, plastic, etc. These things are used in everyday life and without identifying which
hydrocarbon is an alkane or alkene before manufacturing them, they might not have been
invented.
CONCLUSION: Based off the results obtained from the three tests, it was concluded that
Sample A was the alkane and Sample B was the alkene.

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NAME: Xavier Merritt

TITLE: Identifying alkanes and alkenes

APPARATUS: Test tubes, Bunsen burner, test tube holder, 2 spatulas.

MATERIALS: Beaker with sample A, beaker with sample B, Br2(aq.), KMnO4/H+(aq.).

Test Observations with A Observations with B

an alkene which results in the potassium permanganate decolourising. However, potassium

The equations for the three different tests/reactions are:

Test 1: CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)

Test 2: No reaction occurred

Test 3: No reaction occurred

Test 1- C2H4 (g) + 3O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)

Test 3- C2H4+ Br2 → C2H4Br2

Sample A was the alkane and Sample B was the alkene.

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