12 Chemistry 2.5 organic chemistry CR 07 Alcohols Alcohols have the function group –OH General formula: C n H 2n+1 OH or C n H 2n+2 O
12 Chemistry 2.5 organic chemistry CR 07 Classification of alcohols Primary alcohols – the C atom with the OH group attached is attached to only one other C atom (OH on one end) CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH
12 Chemistry 2.5 organic chemistry CR 07 Secondary alcohol: the C atom with the OH group attached is attached to two other C atoms CH 3 CH 2 CHOHCH 3 Tertiary alcohol: the C atom with the OH group attached is attached to three other C atoms CH 3 CH 2 C(CH 3 )OHCH 3
12 Chemistry 2.5 organic chemistry CR 07 Properties of alcohols 1. M - MP and BP 2.Short chain alcohols are miscible with water due to the polar OH group but longer chain alcohols are not miscible with water
12 Chemistry 2.5 organic chemistry CR 07 3.Combustion – undergo complete and incomplete combustion 4.Oxidation of alcohols: 1 0 alcohol aldehyde carboxylic acid O O CH 3 CH 2 OH CH 3 C –H CH 3 C-OH Aldehyde step very quick
12 Chemistry 2.5 organic chemistry CR 07 Oxidation of alcohols 2 0 alcohols ketones alcohols not oxidised Chem Oxidant: Cr 2 O 7 - (orange) Cr 3+ (green)