Final answer:
The addition reaction of an alkene with water to form an alcohol, known as hydration, requires a strong acid catalyst like sulfuric acid. This process converts the double bond in the alkene to a single bond, attaching a hydroxyl group and creating an alcohol.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is focused on how to effect addition reactions with a double bond using different reagents. The reaction of interest is hydration, which involves the addition of water to an alkene to form an alcohol. This particular addition reaction requires the use of a strong acid as a catalyst, with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) being a common choice.
An alcohol, in the context of chemistry, refers to an organic compound that features a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to one of its carbon atoms. The hydration reaction with water leads to the breaking of the double bond in the alkene, resulting in the formation of a single bond and the addition of a hydroxyl group to the molecule, thus creating an alcohol.
For instance, if you take ethene (C₂H₄) and react it with water in the presence of sulfuric acid, you will end up forming ethanol (C₂H₅OH), which is a simple alcohol. The acid is not consumed in this reaction; it only acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction.