The addition of water to an alkene in the presence of a catalytic amount of strong acid leads to the formation of alcohols (hydroxy-alkanes).

This reaction proceeds via a standard carbocation mechanism and follows the Markovnikov rule. The mechanism for the addition of water to ethene follows.

1. The hydrogen ion is attracted to the π bond, which breaks to form a σ bond with one of the double-bonded carbons. The second carbon of the original double-bonded carbons becomes a carbocation.

2. An acid-base reaction occurs between the water molecule and the carbocation, forming an oxonium ion.

3. The oxonium ion stabilizes by losing a hydrogen ion, with the resulting formation of an alcohol.

Cite this article