Unit 2 - Topic 2 - Alcohols Flashcards
Describe alcohol (ethanol) as a fuel
Alcohol is a flammable liquid. An apparatus can be used to identify the products of combustion of ethanol.
What is common alcohol called?
Ethanol
Describe the hydroxyl group
The – O-H group of atoms is called the HYDROXYL GROUP. This is called the functional group as it gives the molecule the chemical properties of an alcohol.
What does the name of ethanol tell you?
Whether there is a single or double carbon to carbon bond
That it contains a hydroxyl group
How many carbon atoms there are
Which family is ethanol a member of?
Alkanols
Describe ethanol
Ethanol is a flammable liquid, which burns to produce water and carbon dioxide.
Ethanol is a covalent liquid.
It is neutral and miscible in water.
Ethanol is a good solvent.
Describe the appearance (colour and state) of ethanol
Colourless liquid
Describe the smell of ethanol
Mild smell
Describe the conductivity of ethanol
Insulator
Describe the solubility in water of ethanol
Miscible
Describe the pH (acidic, neutral, or alkaline) of ethanol
Neutral
Describe the ink of ethanol
Soluble
Describe the varnish of ethanol
Soluble
Describe the chlorophyll in leaves of ethanol
Soluble
Describe the structure of ethanol
Ethanol has a similar structure to water. This is why it is miscible in water
H atom in H2O atom is substituted with an ethyl group
Describe how ethanol is made
Ethanol (industrial alcohol) is made in the petrochemical industry by adding water (steam) across the C=C bond in ethene. This reaction is called HYDRATION.
What is the general formula of the alkanol family?
CnH2n+1OH
Describe the physical properties of alkanols
As the number of carbon atoms in the alkanol molecule increase, the boiling point increases.
The alkanols have similar chemical properties and have a general formula showing they are a homologous series.
As alkanols increase in size their melting and boiling points increase due to the increasing strength of intermolecular forces.
Describe alkanol isomers
Alkanol molecules form isomers; therefore the name has to describe the structure.
The naming rules learned for hydrocarbons apply except the molecule name ends in – OL.
What does miscible mean?
That it mixes with water
What does immiscible mean?
That it does not mix with water
Describe the solubility of the alkanol family
Methanol, ethanol, and propanol are all miscible with water, thereafter the solubility decreases as the size increases.
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