An addition reaction, in organic chemistry, is in its simplest terms an organic reaction where two or more molecules combine to form a larger one.
Addition reactions are limited to chemical compounds that have multiple bonds, such as molecules with carbon-carbon double bonds (alkenes), or with triple bonds (alkynes). Molecules containing carbon—hetero double bonds like carbonyl (C=O) groups, or imine (C=N) groups, can undergo addition as they too have double bond character.
An addition reaction is the opposite of an elimination reaction. For instance the hydration reaction of an alkene and the dehydration of an alcohol are addition-elimination pairs.
There are two main types of polar addition reactions: electrophilic addition and nucleophilic addition. Two non-polar addition reaction exists as well called free radical addition and cycloadditions. Addition reactions are also encountered in polymerizations and called addition polymerization.
Read more about Addition Reaction: Addition-elimination Reaction
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