Addition reaction

An addition reaction, in chemistry, is in its simplest terms a organic reaction where two or more molecules combine to form a larger one.

Related Topics:
Chemistry - Organic reaction

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There are two main types of polar addition reactions:

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• Electrophilic addition
• Nucleophilic addition

Other non-polar addition reactions exists as well:

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• Free radical addition
• Concerted reactions

Addition reactions are limited to chemical compounds that have multiply-bonded atoms:

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• Molecules with carbon-carbon double bonds or triple bonds
• Molecules with carbon - hetero double bonds like C=0 or C=N

An addition reaction is the opposite of an elimination reaction. For instance the hydration reaction of an alkene and the dehydration of an alcohol are addition-elimination pairs.

Related Topics:
Elimination reaction - Hydration reaction - Alkene - Alcohol

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Addition reaction: See also ►