Provide an example of the electrophilic addition of different alkenes.

Electrophilic addition is a reaction in which an electrophile is added to an unsaturated molecule. For example, the reaction between ethene and hydrogen chloride can be represented as follows:

CH2=CH2 + HCl → CH3CH2Cl

In this reaction, the hydrogen chloride molecule acts as an electrophile, attacking the electron-rich double bond of ethene. The result is the formation of a new single bond between the carbon atom of ethene and the chlorine atom of hydrogen chloride, and the breaking of the double bond.

Another example of electrophilic addition is the reaction between propene and bromine:

CH3CH=CH2 + Br2 → CH3CHBrCH2Br

In this reaction, the bromine molecule acts as an electrophile, attacking the electron-rich double bond of propene. The result is the formation of two new single bonds between the carbon atoms of propene and the bromine atoms of the bromine molecule, and the breaking of the double bond.

Electrophilic addition reactions are important in organic chemistry, as they allow the synthesis of a wide range of compounds. They are also used in the production of plastics, such as polyethylene, which is made by the polymerization of ethene.