Alcohols

• What is the general formula of alcohols?

  The general formula of alcohols is CnH2n+1OH.
• What is the prefix of an alcohol group?

  hydroxy
• what is the suffix of an alcohol group?

  -ol
• What are the boiling points of alcohols?

  They have relatively low volatility and high boiling points due to their ability to form hydrogen bonds between alcohol molecules
• What is a primary alcohol?

  Where the carbon is attached to the carbon containing the alcohol group
• What is a secondary alcohol?

  Where 2 carbon atoms are bonded to the carbon binded to the alcohol group
• What is a tertiary alcohol?

  Where the carbon attached to the alcohol group is attached to three other carbon atoms
• What is Fehling’s test?

  • Add about 1$cm^3$of Fehling’s A and the same amount of Fehling’s Bto te solution
  • Add about 7 drops of ethanol. Shake the tube gently and place in a beaker of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes- until no further change occurs
  • Note any observations and repeat for propanone
• What does Fehling’s contain?

  • blue $Cu^{2+}$ions
  • The ions are mild oxidising agent and oxidise the aldehyde to a carboxylic acid
  • The ions are reduced, shown by the brick red precipitate that forms