Chemical properties of ethane and ethene

Ethane undergoes substitution reactions whereas ethene undergoes addition reactions.
Chemical properties of Ethene:

1. Addition of hydrogen

A molecule of hydrogen is added to ethene in the presence of a nickel catalyst at 250-3000^oC to form ethane . The reaction is known as hydrogenation.

C₂H₄ + H₂ → C₂H₆

2. Addition Of Chlorine

Ethene adds chlorine at room temperature to form dichloromethane.

CH₂=CH₂ + HCl → CH₃-CH₂-Cl

3. Combustion

Ethene readily burns in air or oxygen to form carbon-dioxide water and heat.

C₂H₄ + 3O₂ →​ 2CO₂ + 2H₂O + heat


Chemical properties of ethane:

1. Halogenation

C₂H₆ + Cl₂ + energy → C₂H₅Cl + HCl

2. Combustion

2 CH₃CH₃ + 7 O₂ → 4 CO₂ + 6 H₂O