Chapter 14 - Alcohols

Question 1

What are the properties of alcohols?

Answer 1

Higher boiling points than alkenes of similar molecular mass - hydrogen bonding
High solubility - hydrogen bonding with water
Good fuels - don’t contain sulfur, can be obtained by renewable resources

Question 2

What are the products of the combustion of an alcohol?

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide and water

Question 3

What are the two possible products from the oxidation of primary alcohols? What are the conditions?

Answer 3

Aldehydes - distillation, oxidising agent (K2Cr2O7/H+)
Carboxylic acids - reflux, oxidising agent (K2Cr2O7/H+)

Question 4

What is the main product from the oxidation of secondary alcohols? What are the conditions?

Answer 4

Ketones - reflux, K2Cr2O7/H+

Question 5

What is the main product from dehydration of an alcohol? What are the conditions?

Answer 5

Alkene - Heat and H2SO4

Question 6

What is the main product of halogenation of alcohols? What are the conditions? What is the mechanism?

Answer 6

Haloalkane
Reagent - Hydro[halogen] acid
Reflux
Nucleophilic substitution