In an addition reaction forming an alcohol from an alkene, which atoms are added to the carbon chain?

In an addition reaction involving an alkene to form an alcohol, the process typically involves the addition of one hydrogen atom and one hydroxyl group (–OH) to the carbon atoms of the double bond.

When alkenes react during addition reactions, the double bond between the carbon atoms breaks, allowing two new atoms or groups to bond with those carbons. Specifically, one carbon atom of the broken double bond will bond with a hydrogen atom, while the other will bond with a hydroxyl group, which is characteristic of alcohols. This transformation effectively converts the alkene, which has a carbon-carbon double bond, into an alcohol, thereby increasing the saturation of the molecule.

This reaction can be catalyzed by acid and can be represented by the general reaction of an alkene with water (hydration), in which the –OH is derived from water. The formation of an alcohol this way is crucial for organic synthesis and is fundamental in organic chemistry.