Inorganic chemistry, anaddition reaction is anorganic reaction in which two or moremolecules combine to form a larger molecule called theadduct.[1][2]
An addition reaction is limited to chemical compounds that havemultiple bonds. Examples include a molecule with a carbon–carbondouble bond (analkene) or atriple bond (analkyne). Another example is a compound that hasrings (which are also considered points ofunsaturation). A molecule that has carbon—heteroatom double bonds, such as acarbonyl group (C=O) orimine group (C=N), can undergo an addition reaction because its double-bond.
An addition reaction is the reverse of anelimination reaction, in which one molecule divides into two or more molecules. For instance, thehydration of analkene to analcohol is reversed bydehydration.
There are two main types ofpolar addition reactions:electrophilic addition andnucleophilic addition. Two non-polar addition reactions exist as well, calledfree-radical addition andcycloadditions. Addition reactions are also encountered in polymerizations and calledaddition polymerization.
Depending on the product structure, it could promptly react further to eject aleaving group to give theaddition–elimination reaction sequence.
Addition reactions are useful inanalytic chemistry, as they can identify the existence and number of double bonds in a molecule. For example, bromine addition will consume a bromine solution, resulting in a color change:
Likewisehydrogen addition often proceeds on all double-bonds of a molecule, and thus gives a count of the number of a double and triple bonds throughstoichiometry:
Quotations related toAddition reaction at Wikiquote| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
