Alcohols Flashcards
Describe the terms saturated and unsaturated
Saturated compounds only contain C-C single bonds.
Unsaturated compounds contain at least one C=C double bond.
State the main addition reactions
Hydrogenation
Hydration
Halogenation
Describe hydrogenation
A reaction between an alkene and H2, which forms an alkane.
Describe a hydration reaction
A reaction between an alkene and water, which forms an alcohol.
Describe a halogenation reaction
A reaction between an alkene and a halogen, which forms a dihaloalkane.
Describe the test to distinguish between saturated and unsaturated compounds.
If a compound is unsaturated, it will decolourise bromine solution from brown to clear.
What is an isomer?
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula.
How do you predict the solubility, volatility, and boiling point of a compound?
The larger the compound, the less soluble they are, the higher the boiling point, and the less volatile
Explain the trend in the size of a compound and the boiling point
The boiling point increases as the compounds increase in size due to more LDFs.
Explain the solubility of polar and ionic compounds.
Polar and ionic compounds tend to be soluble in polar solvents.
State the functional group in an alcohol
Hydroxyl (-OH)
What is a primary alcohol?
An alcohol where the OH group is directly bonded to 1 other carbon atom. This occurs when the OH group is at the end of the chain.
What is a secondary alcohol?
An alcohol where the OH group is directly bonded to 2 carbon atoms. This occurs when the OH group is in the middle of a chain.
What is a tertiary alcohol?
An alcohol where the OH group is directly bonded to 3 carbon atoms. This occurs when the OH group is bonded to a carbon with a chain on it.
What is a diol?
An alcohol with 2 hydroxyl groups
What is a triol?
An alcohol with 3 hydroxyl groups
Explain the trend with the boiling point of a compound and the number of hydroxyl groups
Alcohols with more hydroxyl groups have a higher boiling point due to more hydrogen bonding.
