alcohols

• Alcohols…

  are carbon-based molecules that contain the functional group: -O-H.

  highly flammable.

  uses a low boiling point.

  undergoes complete combustion.

  ↳ has a similar trend in inflammiblity to alkanes

  can burn in air to produce carbon dioxide and water

  short chain alcohols → can dissolve.

  ↳ can dissolve in water to form neutral solutions

  long chain alcohols → cannot dissolve.

  are used as fuels and solvents.

  examples: ethanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol.
• When sodium reacts with water → releases hydrogen gas and reacts rapidly.

  When sodium reacts with alcohol → fizzes up and reacts quite slowly.

   ↳ reacts less vigorously than sodium + water 

  eg.  sodium + ethanol → sodium ethoxide + hydrogen

          ↳ forms a mildly alkali solution and effervescence (fizz)
• Ethanol can be oxidised to ethanoic acid by chemical oxidising agents or by oxygen in the air

   ↳ Most commonly used oxidising agent → potassium dichromate
• reaction = alcohol + oxygen → carboxylic acid + water
• Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol.

  Ethanoic acid is the main acid in vinegar.