Alcohols

Question 1

What do all alcohols contain?

Answer 1

hydroxyl functional group

Question 2

What can alcohols be classed as depending on the position of the hydroxyl group?

Answer 2

primary
secondary
tertiary

Question 3

What are alcohols isomers of?

Answer 3

the comparable ether

e.g. ethanol and methoxymethane

Question 4

What type of intermolecular bonding do all alcohols contain?

Answer 4

hydrogen bonding

Question 5

What effect does the presence of hydrogen bonding in alcohols have on the boiling point?

Answer 5

alcohols have higher boiling point than other organic compounds of comparable mass and shape

Question 6

What does the polar hydroxyl groups allow alcohols to be in terms of miscibility with water?

Answer 6

Bond allows it to be miscible in water but solubility decreases as the length of the carbon chain increases

Question 7

State 2 methods of preparing alcohols.

Answer 7

hydration of alkenes

nucleophilic substitution of haloalkanes

Question 8

State 7 possible reactions of alcohols.

Answer 8

Combustion
Dehydration to form alkenes
Oxidation
- 1’ aldehyde > carboxlic acid
- 2’ ketone
-3’ does not oxidise
Reaction with halide ions to form haloalkanes
Reaction with carboxylic acids and acid chlorides to form esters
Reaction with alkali metals to form aloxide ions - ethers

Question 9

What do alcohols react with alkali metals to produce?

Answer 9

alkoxide ion and hydrogen gas