4.2 Flashcards
Describe the polarity of alcohols
- The OH group is polar and forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules and other alcohols
- So in small alcohols like ethanol the OH group forms hydrogen bonds with the water molecules which makes it soluble
Describe the boiling point of alcohols
The boiling point of an alcohol is high due to hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonding is a strong type of intermolecular forces found in all alcohols
How will the boiling point of alcohols change with increasing molecular size?
The boiling point will increase due to an increase in temporary dipoles (induced dipole forces)
Describe branching and its effect on boiling point for alcohols
Branching will lower boiling point as the induced dipole dipoles will coverless area. This will lower surface contact between the molecules, resulting in less energy being required to boil the alcohol
Compare boiling points between alcohols and alkenes
Boiling point will be much higher in alcohols dues to hydrogen bonding as they contain a polar OH group.
Compare solubility in water between alcohols and alkenes
Alcohols are soluble in water whereas alkenes aren’t. This is because the OH group is polar and forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules and other alcohols
Describe the volatility of alcohols
The OH group forms hydrogen bonds between alcohols which means that they have a relatively low volatility
Describe the trend in boiling point for straight chain alcohols
As chain length increases, boiling point increases. This is due to more energy being needed to overcome more temporary dipoles as well as hydrogen bondings
What are the 3 classifications of alcohols?
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
What is meant by a primary alcohol?
A primary alcohol means the carbon the OH is on has one carbon attached (or 2 hydrogens attached)
What is meant by a secondary alcohol?
A secondary alcohol means the carbon the OH is on has two carbons attached to it (or has 1 hydrogen)
What is meant by a tertiary alcohol?
A tertiary alcohol means the carbon the OH is on has three carbons attached to it (or has no hydrogens)
Provide examples of secondary alcohols
Propan-2-ol
Butan-2-ol
Pentan-2-ol
Pentan-3-ol
Provide examples of tertiary alcohols
2-methylpropan-2-ol
2-methylbutan-2-ol
2-methylpentan-2-ol
3-methylpentan-3-ol
In the complete combustion of alcohols what 2 products are ALWAYS formed?
Water (H2O) and Carbon dioxide
In the complete combustion of alcohols what 2 products are ALWAYS formed?
Water (H2O) and Carbon dioxide
E.g. C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
In the INCOMPLETE combustion of alcohols what 2 products are formed?
Either carbon monoxide (CO) or soot (C) and water (H2O)
What happens if you oxidise a primary alcohol under distillation?
It forms an aldehyde
Functional group - CHO
What happens if you oxidise an aldehyde?
It forms an carboxylic acid
Functional group -COOH
What happens if you oxidise if you a primary alcohol under reflux?
It forms an carboxylic acid
Functional group -COOH
What happens if you oxidise a secondary alcohol?
It forms a ketone
Functional group - CCOC
What happens if you oxidise a tertiary alcohol and why?
It won’t react as there are NO free protons to undergo the reaction mechanism
What is the oxidising agent when oxidising alcohols called?
Acidified Potassium dichromate
K2Cr2O7 / H2SO4
What colour is it? What colour does it change to when it has been reduced?
It is an ORANGE solution but turns GREEN when it has been reduced
NOTE: Bear in mind that oxidising agents get REDUCED
How can you represent acidified potassium dichromate?
[O]
What does acidified potassium dichromate get reduced to?
+6 to +3
In what situation will oxidation occur?
When the OH is attached to a carbon that has a hydrogen attached
Describe how primary alcohols oxidise to aldehydes
Provide a general equation
Primary alcohols oxidise to aldehydes and water if the oxidation is carried out under DISTILLATION
Primary alcohol + [O} + ( Under distillation) → Aldehyde + H2O
Describe how primary alcohols oxidise to carboxylic acids
Provide a general equation
Primary alcohols oxidise to carboxylic acid and water if the oxidation is carried out under REFLUX
Primary alcohol + [O} + ( Under REFLUX) → Carboxylic acid + H2O
Describe how secondary alcohols oxidise to ketone?
Provide a general equation
Secondary alcohols are EASILY oxidised to KETONES
Secondary alcohol + [O} → Ketone + H2O
NOTE: This process is also known as deydration
Describe a ketone
- Functional - CCOC
- The C=O group is NOT at the end of the chain
- The C doesn’t have a H on it
- It ends in in -one e.g. propanone
- If the C=O could be in more than one position, then a number is needed
Describe a aldehyde
- Functional group - CHO
- The C=O is always on the end of the chain
- They end in -al
- Aldehydes don’t have a number to show the position of the functional group because they are always at the end of the chain
Describe the elimination of H20 to form an alkene from an alcohol
Name - Dehydration
Reagent - Conc. sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or conc.phosphoric acid (H3P04)
Conditions = Reflux (180 degrees celsius)
Equation = Alcohol + (Reagent) → Alkene +H2O
Describe the process of changing an alkene to a halogenoalkane
Name - Electrophilic addition
Conditions - Room temperature
Equation = Alkane + Halogen → Dihaloalkane
Describe the process of forming an ester
Name - Esterification
Reagents - Carboxylic acid + Strong acid catalyst e.g. conc H2SO4
Equation - Carboxylic acid + Alcohol → Ester + H2O