Hexene is an
alkene with a molecular formula
C6H12. The prefix "hex" is derived from the fact that there are 6 carbon atoms in the molecule, while the "
-ene" suffix denotes that there is an
alkene present—two carbon atoms are connected via a double bond. There are several
isomers of hexene, depending on the position and geometry of the
double bond in the chain. One of the most common industrially useful isomers is
1-hexene, an
alpha-olefin. Hexene is used as a
comonomer in the production of
polyethylene.