1 Properties of Alcohols
AS Chemistry A
Module 4 Core Organic Chemistry
Chapter 14 Alcohols
What are the properties and reactions of alcohols?
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Learning Objectives
Starter
Draw the displayed, structural, molecular and
skeletal structure of:
2-methyl-propan-2-ol
2,2 dimethyl butanol
2 bromo,3chloro pentan-2-ol
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Molecular
formula
Name
CH3OH
methanol
C2H5OH
ethanol
C3H7OH
propanol
C4H9OH
butanol
C5H11OH
pentanol
C6H13OH
hexanol
Boardworks Ltd 2009
Naming alcohols
Alcohols with three or more carbon atoms display
positional isomerism. The number of the carbon to which
the hydroxyl groups is attached is written before the ol.
propan-1-ol
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propan-2-ol
Making Ethanol
Hydration of Ethene
Making Ethanol
Fermentation
Molecular
Mass
Boiling
Point (C)
Alcohol
Molecular
Mass
Boiling
Point (C)
Methane
16
-182
Methanol
32
65
Ethane
30
-89
Ethanol
46
78
Propane
44
-42
Propanol
60
97
Butane
58
-0.5
Butanol
74
118
Pentane
72
36
Pentanol
88
138
Hexane
86
69
Hexanol
103
155
Solubility
Alcohols can dissolve in water!
Classification of alcohols
We can classify alcohols into three categories:
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
The classification of alcohol depends on the Alkyl
groups around the OH alcohol group
What are the properties of Alcohols?
Primary Alcohols
The -OH group is bonded to a carbon with one
other alkyl groups attached
Secondary Alcohols
The -OH group is bonded to a carbon with two
other alkyl groups attached
Tertiary Alcohols
The -OH group is bonded to a carbon with three
other alkyl groups attached
A
B
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Oxidation of Alcohols
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Dehydration of an alcohol
ethene gas
aluminium
oxide
water
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Esterification