Final answer:
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with only single bonds, while alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one double bond.
The presence of double bonds in alkenes allows them to react with bromine, turning the solution from orange to colorless, while alkanes do not react with bromine. This can be used as a test to differentiate between the two compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alkanes and alkenes are both types of hydrocarbons, which are organic compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
The main difference between alkanes and alkenes lies in the presence of double bonds in alkenes. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they have only single bonds between their carbon atoms, while alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one double bond between carbon atoms.
To test for the presence of alkanes and alkenes, you can conduct a reaction called the bromine test. Alkanes do not react with bromine, so if you add bromine water (a solution of bromine in water) to an alkane, there will be no visible change.
On the other hand, alkenes readily react with bromine, turning the solution from orange to colorless. This is because the double bonds in alkenes cause the bromine to be added across the double bond, resulting in the formation of a colorless compound.