Ethene is the first member of __________?

Question

Accepted Answer

Alkenes Family - Hydrocarbons are classified into different families based on the types of bonds between carbon atoms. These include alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Ethene (C₂H₄) is the simplest member of the alkene family. Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one double covalent bond (C=C) between two carbon atoms. This double bond significantly affects the chemical properties of alkenes, making them more reactive than alkanes.
The molecular formula of ethene is C₂H₄. It has two carbon atoms connected by a double bond and four hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbons. The general formula for alkenes is CₙH₂ₙ, and ethene is the smallest compound that satisfies this formula, which is why it is called the first member of the alkene series.
 Other options in the question are not correct:









Saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) only contain single bonds, e.g., methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆). Ethene is unsaturated because of its double bond.


Aromatic hydrocarbons contain cyclic structures with delocalized &pi;-electrons, such as benzene (C₆H₆). Ethene is not aromatic because it is an open-chain molecule with no resonance-stabilized ring.


None of these is incorrect because ethene clearly belongs to the alkene family.


Ethene is an important industrial chemical used in making polymers (polyethylene), ethanol, ethylene oxide, and many other organic compounds. Its double bond makes it highly reactive, allowing it to undergo addition reactions with halogens, hydrogen, and water.
In summary, ethene is the first and simplest member of the alkene family, representing a fundamental class of unsaturated hydrocarbons studied in organic chemistry.

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