How bromine water can be used to test for an alkene?

Answer:
Alkenes, or hydrocarbons with at least one double bond undergo an addition reaction when combined with bromine (Br2). The general reaction is H2C=CH2 --> H2BrC--CBrH2, and it occurs readily. This reaction is a good way to identify alkenes because bromine has a reddish color, while alkanes and alkenes are colorless. So if bromine is added to an unknown hydrocarbon, the disappearance of the color is an indication of the presence of a pi bond.
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