Bromine water is an orange solution of bromine. It becomes colourless when it is shaken with an alkene. Alkenes can decolourise bromine water, but alkanes cannot. The slideshow shows this process.

An unsolved challenge in catalysis is the efficient and selective functionalization of simple alkanes and plentiful hydrocarbon feedstocks. One promising approach since the late 1990’s is the use of ...

The longest unbranched chain containing the functional group is the parent molecule, or simply the longest unbranched chain for alkanes. Remember that, the longest chain can go round a bend.

More information: Hao Zeng et al, Modular alkene synthesis from carboxylic acids, alcohols and alkanes via integrated ...