Reactivity of Ethane, Ethene, and Ethyne

Introduction
Ethane, ethene, and ethyne are all hydrocarbons belonging to the alkane, alkene, and alkyne families, respectively. The reactivity of a compound is determined by the presence and nature of its functional groups, as well as the stability of its molecular structure. Let's explore the reactivity of each compound in detail.

Ethane (C2H6)
Ethane is composed of two carbon atoms bonded together by a single covalent bond. It is an alkane, meaning it consists of only single bonds and is saturated with hydrogen atoms. Ethane has relatively low reactivity due to the absence of any functional groups that can engage in chemical reactions. The carbon-carbon single bond is relatively stable, making ethane relatively unreactive compared to the other compounds.

Ethene (C2H4)
Ethene, also known as ethylene, is an alkene consisting of two carbon atoms connected by a double bond. The presence of this double bond gives ethene higher reactivity compared to ethane. The pi bond in the double bond is relatively weak, making it susceptible to addition reactions. Ethene readily undergoes addition reactions with electrophiles, such as halogens or hydrogen, to form new compounds.

Ethyne (C2H2)
Ethyne, commonly referred to as acetylene, is an alkyne with two carbon atoms connected by a triple bond. The presence of the triple bond gives ethyne the highest reactivity among the three compounds. The carbon-carbon triple bond is highly reactive and readily undergoes addition reactions, similar to ethene. Ethyne is particularly reactive towards electrophiles and can form a wide range of products through addition reactions.

Summary
In summary, ethane is the least reactive among the three compounds due to its saturated nature and absence of functional groups. Ethene, with its carbon-carbon double bond, exhibits higher reactivity and readily undergoes addition reactions. Ethyne, possessing a carbon-carbon triple bond, is the most reactive compound among the three and undergoes addition reactions more readily than ethene. It is important to note that the reactivity of these compounds can be further influenced by various factors such as temperature, pressure, and the presence of catalysts.

Ethyne is most reactive among the three.... REASON- more the no. of π bond, more will be the unstability... ethyne has 2 π-bonds and thus will react fast to gain stability as compared to ethane(no π bond) and ethene (1π bond)