alcohols Flashcards
What is the functional group of an alcohol
Hydroxyl group
-OH
What is the general formula of an alcohol
CnH2n+1OH
How do you name alcohols (1 prefix, 1 suffix)
Hydroxyl-
or
-ol
What kind of intermolecular forces do alcohols have and why?
Hydrogen boding due to the electronegativity difference in the OH bond
How do alcohols’ melting point and boiling point compare to other hydrocarbons’ of similar carbon chain lengths, why?
- Higher boiling and melting points
- Because they have hydrogen bonding which is the strongest type of intermolecular force
Are alcohols soluble in water? Why does solubility depend on chain length?
- Soluble when short chain, OH hydrogen bonds to hydrogen bond in water
- Insoluble when long chain, non-polarity of C-H bond takes precedence
What makes an alcohol primary?
C bonded to OH is only bonded to one other C atom
What makes an alcohol secondary?
C bonded to OH is bonded to 2 other C atoms
What makes an alcohol tertiary?
C bonded to OH is bonded to 3 other C atoms
What forms if you partially oxidise (distil) a primary alcohol?
An aldehyde
What conditions are needed to partially oxidise (distil) primary alcohol?
Dilute sulphuric acid, potassium dichromate (VI), distill product as its produced and gentle heating
What formed if you fully oxidise (reflux) a primary alcohol?
A carboxylic acid
What conditions are needed to fully oxidise a primary alcohol?
- Concentrated sulphuric acid, potassium dichromate (VI), strong heating
What forms if you oxidise (reflux) secondary alcohol?
A ketone
What conditions are needed for the oxidation (reflux) of a secondary alcohol?
- Concentrated sulphuric acid, potassium dichromate (VI), strong heating