Properties

Alkynes resemble alkanes and alkenes in their physical properties. They share with those other hydrocarbons the properties of low density and low water-solubility. They are nonpolar and dissolve readily in typical organic solvents such as alkanes, and diethyl ether. Alkynes generally have slightly higher boiling points than the corresponding alkanes and alkenes due to more polar character. Normally they are colourless and odourless gas - acetylene is also colourless and odourless but it contains garlic odour due to impurities of PH₃ & AsH₃.

(i) Acidity of acetylene and terminal alkynes

The C––H bonds of hydrocarbons show little tendency to ionize, and alkynes are very weak acids. The ionization constant (K_a) for methane, for example, is too small to be measured directly, but is about 10^-60 (pK_a 60).


Since it is derived from a very weak acid, a carbanion such as CH₃ is an exceptionally strong base. In general, the ability of an atom to bear a negative charge is related to its electronegativity. Both the electronegativity of an atom X and the acidity of H––X increase across a row in the periodic table.


In above HI is strongest acid so, the basicity of the conjugate base : X^–- decreases across this series.


As the electron-attracting power of the negatively charged atom increases, the anion becomes less basic. Alkynes are more acidic than alkenes, and alkenes are more acidic than alkanes.



This order of acidity by examining how strongly each anion holds the unshared electron pair. The ionization of acetylene yields an anion in which the unshared electron pair occupies sp hybridisation.