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Background
- They are a homologous series
- Alcohols are soluble in water because they can form hydrogen bonds
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What is the general formula?
CnH2n+1OH
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Physical Properties
- Alcohol is polar which causes hyrogen bonding between the molecules
- They have lower volatility
- Higher than expected boiling points
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Combustion
- Alcohols burn to form carbon dioxide and water
- This reaction is exothermic
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Elimination of water
When alcohols are heated with a acid catalyst water is eliminated to give an alkene
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Esterification
In the presence of an acid catalyst alcohols react with carboxylic acids to form sweet smeeling liquids
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Classification of alcohols
- Primary - On the carbon with the OH group with two hydrogen atoms
- Secondary - On the carbon with the Oh group with only one hydrogen atom
- Tertiary - On the carbon atom with the OH group with no hydrogen
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How to distinguish between alcohols
- Primary and secondary alcohols have at least one hydrogen atom on a carbon as well as the OH. One of these hydrogens and a hydrogen on the OH can be removed.
- They both can be oxidised
- Tertiary can not be oxidised
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