ABSTRACT
Alkenes are a class of compounds characterized by a carbon–carbon double bond, which is highly reactive with a variety of reagents. Alkenes are among the most important of all functional groups due to the versatility of their chemistry. Alkynes react similarly except that only one π-bond will react in most reactions and the product either has a π-bond as part of the structure or reacts to give another product due to the presence of the π-bond. Alkynes are organic hydrocarbons that contain a carbon–carbon triple bond, which is composed of dseveral π-bonds that are perpendicular to one another. The reaction of a carbocation with water gives a new intermediate called an oxonium ion, which loses a proton in an acid–base reaction to give an alcohol product. Except for the stabilization by the mercury, the carbocation intermediate behaves more or less like any other carbocation–water reaction.
