Alcohols

Question 1

What is an alcohol?

Answer 1

A molecule containing a -OH functional group (hydroxyl group)

Question 2

What is the structure of an alcohol?

Answer 2

Based off alkane structure, with one H substituted for an OH.

Question 3

What is the general formula of an alcohol?

Answer 3

Cn H2n+1 OH

Question 4

How do you name an alcohol?

Answer 4

1. Find longest carbon chain and number the carbons starting at end with the OH.
2. Identify the number of carbons that branches are attached to, identigy the branches and put them in alphabetical order, with prefixes.
3. Identify the number of carbon containing the OH (not for methanol or ethanol) and add -ol to the end.

Question 5

What is a primary alcohol?

Answer 5

Functional Group : End of the chain.

Number of Hydrogens attached to the C : 2

Question 6

What is a secondary alcohol?

Answer 6

Functional Group : Middle of the chain

Number of Hydrogens attached to the C : 1

Question 7

What is a tertiary alcohol?

Answer 7

Functional Group : Middle of the chain

Number of Hydrogens attached to the C : 0

Question 8

What alcohols can be oxidised?

Answer 8

Primary and secondary.

Question 9

Why can’t tertiary alcohols be oxidised?

Answer 9

Because there is no hydrogen attached to the carbon that is attached to the functional group.

Question 10

What are alcohols containing two hydroxyl groups and three hydroxyl groups called?

Answer 10

Diols for two
Triols for three
More hydroxyl groups mean stronger bonding within the molecule, causing higher melting/boiling points.

Question 11

What is the bonding in alcohols?

Answer 11

Hydroxyl groups make alcohols polar and this gives rise to hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen
bonding can be used to explain the properties of alcohols, including boiling points, melting
points, viscosity and solubility/miscibility in water.