Chemistry Forum

The basic organic Chem reaction pathway diagram for my syllabus shows alkanes being formed specifically from ‘reduction’ of alkenes with no mention of addition. Other reactions like alkene to haloalkane where the double bond is removed by adding atoms is referred to as ‘addition’.

What traits make alkenes to alkanes ‘reduction’ instead of addition? Shouldn’t they also fit under addition as addition is where atoms are being added to turn the double bond into a single bond?

Same thing with nitriles to amines. The triple bond is converted into a single bond by adding hydrogen atoms which fits the addition reaction, but is termed ‘reduction’.

The removing of a double bond works by Addition of other atoms, like hydrogen and this change the oxidations number of the carbons. It is a reduction in this case. In H₂C=CH₂ + H₂ => CH₃- CH₃. C changes from - 2 to -3.
There is no difference. But if you add a halogen. The number rises.

H₂C=CH₂ + Cl₂ => ClCH₂-CH₂Cl oxidation number rises from - 2 to -1.