Question

What happens when ethane reacts with bromine water?

Answer 1

Bromine water (${\mathrm{Br}}_2$):

• It is used to identify unsaturation in an organic compound and undergoes an addition reaction, to give a decolorized solution.
• It is a yellowish-red color liquid.

Ethane (${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6$):

It is a single-single carbon ($\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{C}$) bond with a colorless and odorless gas.

The reaction mechanism between the Ethane and Bromine water is:

• No reaction is possible between these two reactants because ethane is a saturated compound and bromine water is used to identify the unsaturated compound.
• The color of bromine water remains unchanged.

Hence, ethane does not react with bromine water.