(Q3) Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers Flashcards
Alcohols
- Derivatives of hydrocarbons in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group
General Formula for Alcohols
R-OH
R is any alkyl group attached to the -OH group
R is at minium CH3 (methanol)
Naming Alcohols
- Take the alkane name and drop the “e” and replace it with “ol”
Primary Alcohol
An alcohol in which the hydroxyl group is attached to a carbon that’s attached to no more than one other carbon atom
ex. methanol, ethanol
Secondary Alcohol
An alcohol in which the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached to a carbon that is attached to two other carbons
ex. isopropyl alcohol/isopropanol (rubbing alcohol)
Tertiary Alcohol
An alcohol in which the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached to a carbon that is in turn attached to three other carbons
Monohydroxyl alcohols
An alcohol with only one -OH hydroxyl group
Dihydroxyl Alcohol
An alcohol containing two hydroxyl groups
Trihydroxyl Alcohol
An alcohol containing three hydroxyl groups
ex. Glycerol/Glycerin
Polyhydroxy Alcohols
Those alcohols having more than three hydroxyl groups
ex. sorbitol
Phenol
- Carbolic Acid
- Hydroxybenze
- Aromatic alcohol; derivative of benzene with a hydroxyl group attached to it
Thiols/Mercaptans
- Any organic chemical that contains the -SH radical (sulfur and hydrogen)
- Formed when the oxygen in alcohol is replaced with sulfur
- Functional Group: -SH (sulfhydryl group)
- General Formula: R-SH
Naming Thiols/Mercaptans
- Add “thiol” to the name of the parent hydrocarbon
or - Name the alkyl group and then add the word “mercaptan”
Methyl Mercaptan/Methanethiol
- Chemical released from decaying organic matter
- Decomposition by-product
- Creates the smell of rotten cabbage
Ether
- An ether is formed when sulfuric acid is used to dehydrate an alcohol
- Sulfuric acid removes water from two molecules of alcohol
- General Formula: ROR or ROR’ (R is a minimum of -CH3) (R’ is a different group than R)
