Alcohols and some of their Reactions Flashcards
what are alcohols
- a homologous series of compounds
- with the general formula CnH2n+1OH
what are alcohols usually the product of
halogenalkanes going through hydrolysis
what symbol is used to represent an alkyl group
R
using that symbol, what is the simplified formula of an alcohol
ROH
what is a primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol
- a primary alcohol has the OH group bonded to only one carbon atom or alkyl group
- a secondary has it bonded to two
- and a tertiary has it bonded to three
what would be the abbreviated formula for primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols
- for primary it is ROH
- for secondary it is R2CHOH
- for tertiary it is R3COH
what are the three reactions of alcohols covered in this section
- combustion
- conversions to halogenalkanes
- dehydration of alkenes
what is the equation for the complete combustion of ethanol
C2H5OH + 3O2 = 2CO2 + 3H2O
what do the conversions of halogenalkanes invlove
replacing the hydroxyl group in an alcohol molecule with a halogen atom
what is the other name of this reaction that could be used, but what is the catch
- halogenation
- but adding a halogen to an alcohol doesnt work
- so different methods are needed for each halogen
what is the chlorination of an alcohol carried out using
- phosphorus V chloride
- a white solid also known as phosphorus pentachloride
why does the reaction between an alcohol and phosphorus V chloride not need heating
because the reaction is very vigorous and exothermic itself
what are the two inorganic products in this reaction
hydrochloric acid and phosphorus oxychloride
what is the structural formula equation for the reaction between propan-1-ol and phosphorus pentachloride
CH3-CH2-CH2OH + PCl5 = CH3CH2CH2Cl + POCl3 + HCl
how is the chlorination of tertiary alcohols done
the alcohol is mixed with concentrated hydrochloric acid, by shaking, at room temp