alcohols Flashcards
why will wine end up tasting sour if left opened without cork?
This is because the alcohol (ethanol) has been oxidised to a carboxylic acid (ethanoic acid).
how can we distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols?
by looking at the reaction of alcohols with oxidising agents such as acidified potassium dichromate (VI)
what is oxidation?
oxidation is regarded as the gain of 1
oxygen atom (or the loss of 2 hydrogen atoms).
what is an oxidising agent?
The chemical that supplies the oxygen (or removes the hydrogen)
what symbol shows 1 atom of oxygen? or shows the oxidant
In balanced symbol equations [O] is 1 atom of oxygen.
what is a primary alcohol oxidised to form?
to form an aldehyde.
the aldehyde can then be further oxidised into a…?
By adding..?
carboxcylic acid
Excess potassium dichromate
give the full displayed formula reaction when ethanol is warmed with excess acidified potassium dichromate.
ethanol + [O] ——> ethanal and water
CH3CH2OH + [O] → CH3CHO + H2O
then
ethanal + [O] ———-> ethanoic acid
CH3CHO + [O] → CH3COOH
what is the overall reaction for the above reaction?
CH3CH2OH + 2 [O] → CH3COOH + H2O
ethanol + 2 [O] —–> carboxylic acid + water
what are the reaction conditions for the oxidation of primary alcohols?
K2Cr2O7 + (H2SO4) dilute and warm sulphuric acid
what colour change is observed when primary alcohols are oxidised using acidified potassium dichromate (VI)?
The orange solution of potassium dichromate (VI) changes to
a green solution containing chromium (III) ions.
how can we control the oxidation of primary alcohols?
By altering the reaction conditions
How do we control the oxidation of a primary alcohol to give us an aldehyde?
using distillation apparatus
How do we control the oxidation of a primary alcohol to give us a carboxylic acid?
Alcohol is oxidised under reflux
if a primary alcohol is oxidised using distillation apparatus…?
why does this work?
then any aldehyde formed will distil off immediately from the mixture.
This works because the aldehyde boiling point is lower than the corresponding alcohol and carboxylic acid.
if a primary alcohol is oxidised under reflux, then…?
why does this work?
the aldehyde cannot escape and is oxidised to form a carboxylic acid.
When reactants are heated under reflux, any volatile components will rise up the condenser, get condensed and
then return to the reaction mixture.
what are secondary alcohols oxidised to?
ketones
give the full displayed formula reaction when butan-2-ol is warmed with acidified potassium dichromate.
makes butanone
why can aldehydes be further oxidised but not ketones?
Aldehydes can be oxidised further because there is still a hydrogen atom attached to the carbon with the C=O bond.
Ketones do not have this hydrogen atom.
what are the reaction conditions for the oxidation of secondary alcohols
K2Cr2O7 + dilute H2SO4 + warm
When secondary alcohols are oxidised using
acidified potassium dichromate (VI) what colour change is observed?
The orange solution of potassium dichromate (VI) changes to a green solution containing chromium (III) ions.
what observation is made from tertiary alcohols and oxidising agents?
Tertiary alcohols are not oxidised by acidified
dichromate (VI) ions.
Therefore, no colour change is observed – the
solution stays orange.
why do tertiary alcohols have no reaction?
In contrast to 1° and 2° alcohols, 3° alcohols do not have a hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon carrying the ―OH group.
Such atoms are removed as part of the oxidation process – thus 3° alcohols are not oxidised under normal conditions.
Aldehydes and ketones
What does the carbonyl, aldehyde and ketone group look like?
- C=O
Which two homologous series have the same general formula?
Aldehydes and ketones
CnH2nO