1. 2.10 Reactions of alcohols Connector
c. describe the following chemistry of alcohols:
i. combustion
ii. reaction with sodium
iii. substitution reactions to form halogenoalkanes, including reaction with PCl5 and its use as a qualitative test for the presence of the –OH group
iv. oxidation using potassium dichromate (VI) in dilute sulfuric acid on primary alcohols to produce aldehydes and carboxylic acids and on secondary alcohols to produce ketones
Connector
Draw the following functional groups as displayed formulae:
primary alcohol secondary alcohol aldehyde ketone carboxylic acid
Crowe2009

2. Physical properties of alcohols
Alcohols - boiling points relatively high compared with corresponding alkanes (e.g. ethanol, 78oC ethane -88.5oC).
Smaller alcohols miscible with water, unlike the alkanes.
Suggest the reason for these.
Hydrogen bonding between the molecules.

4. Combustion of alcohols
Alcohols are highly flammable and may be used as fuels.
Write a balanced equation for the complete combustion of ethanol.
C2H5OH (l) O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 3H2O (g)
HOMEWORK - Bioethanol
How is it produced?
How is it used?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of its use as a fuel.

5. 1. acidified potassium dichromate(VI) primary alcohols give aldehydes
Reactions of alcohols
1. acidified potassium dichromate(VI)
primary alcohols give aldehydes
K2Cr2O7/H H
CH3CH2CH2OH CH3CH2C=O
[-2H] propanal
What type of reaction is this?
Excess acidified K2Cr2O7 oxidises the aldehyde to the corresponding carboxylic acid: OH
CH3CH2C=O propanoic acid
Acidified KMnO4 is too strong an oxidising agent to produce propanal, propanoic acid is obtained.
HEAT

6. 1. acidified potassium dichromate(VI)(continued)
Reactions of alcohols
1. acidified potassium dichromate(VI)(continued)
Secondary alcohols give ketones:
K2Cr2O7/H+
(CH3)2CHOH (CH3)2C=O
[-2H] propanone
Tertiary alcohols do not react with K2Cr2O7/H+
HEAT

7. Reactions of alcohols
2. Breaking the O-H bond
i) reaction with sodium
sodium + ethanol  sodium ethoxide + hydrogen
write a balanced symbol equation
2Na + 2C2H5OH  2NaOC2H5 + H2
ii) esterification H+
propan-1-ol + ethanoic acid  propyl water
ethanoate
Write structural formulae of the reactants and products.

8. R-OH + PCl5  RCl + POCl3 + HCl * What would be observed?
Reactions of alcohols
3. Nucleophilic substitution (breaking the C-O bond) What is a nucleophile? What is substitution?
R-OH + X-  R-X + OH-
R-OH + PCl5  RCl + POCl3 + HCl *
( * Test for –OH )
What would be observed?
What further tests would you carry out?
Rapid exothermic reaction producing misty fumes of HCl (g),
which turn moist blue litmus paper red.

9. Reactions of alcohols
3. Nucleophilic substitution (breaking the C-O bond) (continued)
R-OH + X  R-X + OH-
conc.H2SO4
R-OH + Br  R-Br + OH-
reflux
R-OH + NaBr  R-Br + H2O
(NaBr or KBr and conc. H2SO4 heat under reflux)*
*A metal halide and concentrated sulphuric acid should not be used when making a bromoalkane or an iodoalkane, because sulphuric acid is an oxidising reagent and unwanted side reactions occur.

10. (Red phosphorus and bromine or iodine,
Reactions of alcohols
3. Nucleophilic substitution (breaking the C-O bond) (continued)
R-OH + X-  R-X + OH-
red phosphorus
R-OH + I-  R-I + OH-
reflux
3R-OH + PI3  R-I + H3PO3
(Red phosphorus and bromine or iodine,
heat under reflux.)

11. Reactions of alcohols
4. Dehydration reactions
heat/conc. H2SO4
alcohol alkene
-H2O
Write the symbol equations for the dehydration reactions of, butan-1-ol and butan-2-ol. Name the three products.