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CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

Addition reaction

A reaction in which two or more reactants combine into a single product, typically by adding across a C=C double bond. Every reactant atom ends up in the product, so the atom economy is 100%.

CHHCHH
The π bond of ethene's C=C is where addition happens.

Example

CHX2=CHX2+BrX2→CHX2BrCHX2Br\ce{CH2=CH2 + Br2 -> CH2BrCH2Br}: all the atoms of both reactants end up in 1,2-dibromoethane. Addition polymerization is the same idea repeated thousands of times.