hexadiene

Hexadiene is a name given to any alkene with the chemical formula C6H10, meaning it has six carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms. Specifically, it refers to a molecule that contains two carbon-carbon double bonds. The positions of these double bonds and the arrangement of the carbon atoms define the various isomers of hexadiene. The general formula for an alkene with one double bond is CnH2n, and for an alkadiene with two double bonds, it is CnH2n-2. Therefore, for n=6, the formula is C6H(2*6)-2 = C6H10, confirming the formula for hexadiene.

There are many possible structural isomers of hexadiene. The carbon chain can be linear or branched, and the double bonds can be conjugated (separated by one single bond), isolated (separated by two or more single bonds), or cumulative (next to each other, forming a C=C=C system, though this is less common for hexadiene and more often seen in molecules with fewer carbons). Examples of common hexadiene isomers include 1,3-hexadiene and 1,5-hexadiene. The presence and position of the double bonds significantly influence the chemical reactivity of the molecule, particularly in addition reactions.