Alcohols

Cards (14)

  • Which alcohols can exist as structural isomers

    • Alcohols with more than two carbon atoms can exist as structural isomers
  • Polarity
    Alcohol molecules are polar and hydrogen bonds exist between the molecules
  • Melting and boiling points
    Alcohols have relatively high melting points and boiling points, and low volatilities, compared with alkanes of a similar molecular mass because they have both hydrogen bonding and London forces where alkanes only have London forces
  • Solubility
    Alcohols with a short carbon chain length are soluble in water, solubility decreases as the carbon chain length increases
  • Primary alcohols

    The -OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to one carbon atom
  • Secondary alcohols

    The -OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to two other carbon atoms
  • Tertiary alcohols

    The -OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to three other carbon atoms
  • When a primary alcohol is oxidised
    It is converted to an aldehyde
  • When a primary alcohol is further oxidised

    It is converted to a carboxylic acid
  • When a secondary alcohol is oxidised

    It is converted to a ketone
  • Ketones cannot be oxidised any further
  • Elimination reaction

    Dehydrating agents, such as concentrated sulfuric acid, H2SO4, or phosphoric acid, H3PO4, can be used to remove water from alcohols
  • Substitution reaction

    Alcohols react with hydrogen halides, such as hydrogen bromide, HBr, to produce haloalkanes
  • The general formula for an alcohol is R-OH