What happens in an addition reaction?

What happens in an addition reaction?

• A. One which the double bond breaks so that a bond can be made into another atom.
• B. Two monomers combine and release a small molecule
• C. A polymer splits into monomers
• D. A radical forms a new bond

Answer: (A)

Addition reactions involve an unsaturated molecule that contains a carbon–carbon double bond. The π bond is broken as atoms or groups from the reacting substance attach to the two carbon atoms, forming two new σ bonds. This addition across the double bond converts it into a single bond and the molecule becomes more saturated. That’s why you see the double bond disappear and new atoms added across it—for example, hydrogen adding to an alkene to give an alkane, or bromine adding to give a dibromide. The other described processes depict different types of reactions, such as linking monomers with the loss of a small molecule (polymerization), a polymer breaking back into monomers (depolymerization), or a general radical-forming step not specifically about adding across a double bond.

Addition reactions involve an unsaturated molecule that contains a carbon–carbon double bond. The π bond is broken as atoms or groups from the reacting substance attach to the two carbon atoms, forming two new σ bonds. This addition across the double bond converts it into a single bond and the molecule becomes more saturated. That’s why you see the double bond disappear and new atoms added across it—for example, hydrogen adding to an alkene to give an alkane, or bromine adding to give a dibromide. The other described processes depict different types of reactions, such as linking monomers with the loss of a small molecule (polymerization), a polymer breaking back into monomers (depolymerization), or a general radical-forming step not specifically about adding across a double bond.