3.3.5 - Alcohols Flashcards
Alcohols have _____ melting and boiling points than alkanes of similar relative molecular mass
higher
Why do alcohols have higher melting and boiling points than alkanes?
∵ -OH group in alcohol means hydrogen bonding occurs between molecules
-OH group of alcohols can…
hydrogen bond to water molecules
….cannot bond to water molecules
Non-polar hydrocarbon chain
Why are alcohols with short hydrocarbon chains are soluble in water?
∵ of hydrogen bonding predominates
Why are alcohols with longer hydrocarbon chains are insoluble in water?
Non-polar hydrocarbon chain dominates
What is the benefit of making alkenes from a dehydration reaction?
Allows you to make alkenes from renewable resources i.e. without crude oil
Elimination Reaction
Name the condition and product when an alcohol is used as a reactant
Product: Alkene
- Al2O3 Catalyst
- 450 K
- Concentrated, hot H2SO4
Ethanol + H2SO4
Name the mechanism
Elimination
Ethanol + H2SO4
Mechanism
H2SO4 - acts as a catalyst
How does distillation work?
Uses the fact that chemicals have different boiling points & separates them out to get a single purified substance
Name 2 ways ethanol can be produced
- Hydration
- Fermenation
Describe hydration (4)
- Hydration of ethene using steam to produce ethanol
- Acid catalyst
- High temperature + high pressure
- H2O added across double bond
Hydration
Name 3 conditions for producing ethanol
- 300°C
- Pressure of 60 atm
- Solid phosphoric(V) acid catalyst
- H3PO4
Describe fermenation
- Fermentation (exothermic reaction) is carried out by yeast in anaerobic respiration
- Yeast produces an enzyme that converts sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide
- Ethanol formed is separated by fractional distillation
What is an advantage of using fermentation to make alcohol?
Low tech process (uses cheap equipment & renewable resources)
What is a disadvantage of using fermentation to make alcohol?
Fractional distillation is needed for purification = expensive & time consuming