Use the passage below and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. Ethene reacts with bromine to give 1,2-dibromoethane as the only product. The mechanism for the reaction is electrophilic addition and involves heterolytic fission of chemical bonds. The bromine molecules behave as electrophiles in this reaction.

a. By what mechanism does bromine react with ethene?

b. Write a balanced symbol equation for this reaction.

c. Bonds break in this reaction. What type of bond breaking is involved?

d. Show the mechanism of the reaction as fully as you can, using curly arrows.

e. Which substance behaves here as an electrophile? Explain what is meant by the term electrophile.