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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: ifrah on November 09, 2009, 03:52:49 AM

Title: acidic nature of alkynes
Post by: ifrah on November 09, 2009, 03:52:49 AM

why are alkynes i.e.ethyne acidic in nature??

Title: Re: acidic nature of alkynes
Post by: KritikalMass on November 09, 2009, 04:40:34 AM

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopic/Alkynes-Acidity.topicArticleId-22667,articleId-22632.html

http://www.chem.ucalgary.ca/courses/351/Carey5th/Ch09/ch9-2.html

Title: Re: acidic nature of alkynes
Post by: catalyst on November 09, 2009, 07:37:21 AM

From my understanding acidity has to do with hydrogen atoms, and bases have to do with hydroxide ions (OH^-).

So it's not completely out of the ordinary that alkynes, which are a type of hydrocarbon (an aliphatic hydrocarbon to be exact) might exhibit some of these characteristics.

I believe the reason WHY it's more acidic when compared to other hydrocarbons has something to do with its electron structure in a way that it is more willing to give up its hydrogen.

Hope that helps.