Alkene

Definition

Alkenes are hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond, distinguishing them from alkanes which have single bonds only. They are unsaturated, meaning they can react with other atoms to "saturate" the double bond.

Related terms

Hydrocarbon:

Organic compounds made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Saturated compound: A hydrocarbon that contains only single bonds between carbon atoms, making no room for additional hydrogen atoms.

Addition reaction: A chemical reaction where atoms are added to a molecule without taking any away, common in reactions involving alkenes