Question

What are a) Paraffins and b) Olefins? Why are they named so?

Answer 1

Paraffins:

• Another name of alkanes.
• Paraffin is made of two words. Parum - little and affins - affinity.
• Thus paraffins virtually means something which is less reactive.
• At the same time, Alkanes contain strong single covalent bonds between them and hence are chemically inert under normal conditions. This is the reason why Alkanes are called paraffins.

Olefins:

• Another name for alkenes.
• Olefins means oil forming.
• Alkenes are called olefins because the lower members of alkenes form oily products when they are treated with chlorine or bromine.