Markovnikov’s rule

Definition

Markovnikov's rule predicts the outcome of the electrophilic addition of hydrogen halides to alkenes, stating that the hydrogen atom will attach to the carbon with more hydrogen atoms, and the halide will attach to the more substituted carbon. This rule helps in determining the major product of addition reactions in organic chemistry.

Related terms

Electrophilic addition: A reaction where a pi bond is broken and two new sigma bonds are formed when an electrophile reacts with an alkene.

Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond, acting as reactive centers for various chemical reactions.

Hydrogen halides: Compounds consisting of hydrogen and a halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) that can add across the double bond of alkenes following Markovnikov's rule