Difference between revisions of "Alcohol"
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| − | Alcohols are organic compounds which contain a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) | + | Alcohols are organic compounds which contain a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) bonded to a saturated [[carbon]] atom. |
== Types of Alcohols == | == Types of Alcohols == | ||
| − | Alcohols are | + | Alcohols are divided according to the type of [[carbon]] atom to which the hydroxyl functional group is bonded: |
* [[Primary alcohol|Primary alcohols]] | * [[Primary alcohol|Primary alcohols]] | ||
** Primary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to only one other carbon atom. | ** Primary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to only one other carbon atom. | ||
| − | ** [[Primary alcohol|Primary alcohols]] are oxidized to [[Aldehyde|aldehydes]]. | + | ** [[Primary alcohol|Primary alcohols]] are first oxidized to [[Aldehyde|aldehydes]], then to [[Carboxylic acid|carboxylic acids]]. |
* [[Secondary alcohol|Secondary alcohols]] | * [[Secondary alcohol|Secondary alcohols]] | ||
** Secondary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to two other carbon atom. | ** Secondary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to two other carbon atom. | ||
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* [[Tertiary alcohol|Tertiary alcohols]] | * [[Tertiary alcohol|Tertiary alcohols]] | ||
** Tertiary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to three other carbon atom. | ** Tertiary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to three other carbon atom. | ||
| − | ** [[Tertiary alcohol|Tertiary alcohols]] | + | ** [[Tertiary alcohol|Tertiary alcohols]] cannot be oxidized. |
[[File:Types of Alcohols.png|thumb|470x470px|centre]] | [[File:Types of Alcohols.png|thumb|470x470px|centre]] | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>7</sub>OH | |C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>7</sub>OH | ||
| − | |[[ | + | |[[2-propanol]] |
|Rubbing alcohol | |Rubbing alcohol | ||
|- | |- | ||
|C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>9</sub>OH | |C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>9</sub>OH | ||
| − | | | + | |1-Butanol |
|[[Butanol]] | |[[Butanol]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>11</sub>OH | |C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>11</sub>OH | ||
| − | |Pentanol | + | |1-Pentanol |
|Amyl alcohol | |Amyl alcohol | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub> | |C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub> | ||
|Propane-1,2-diol | |Propane-1,2-diol | ||
| − | |Propylene | + | |Propylene glycol |
|- | |- | ||
|C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>5</sub>(OH)<sub>3</sub> | |C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>5</sub>(OH)<sub>3</sub> | ||
Revision as of 14:42, 2 November 2015
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Alcohols are organic compounds which contain a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) bonded to a saturated carbon atom.
Contents
Types of Alcohols
Alcohols are divided according to the type of carbon atom to which the hydroxyl functional group is bonded:
- Primary alcohols
- Primary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to only one other carbon atom.
- Primary alcohols are first oxidized to aldehydes, then to carboxylic acids.
- Secondary alcohols
- Secondary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to two other carbon atom.
- Secondary alcohols are oxidized to ketones.
- Tertiary alcohols
- Tertiary alcohols are ones in which the carbon atom that is bonded to a hydroxyl functional group is bounded to three other carbon atom.
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized.
Nomenclature
Systematic names
Common names
| Chemical Formula | IUPAC Name | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| Monohydric alcohols | ||
| CH3OH | Methanol | Wood alcohol |
| C2H5OH | Ethanol | Alcohol |
| C3H7OH | 2-propanol | Rubbing alcohol |
| C4H9OH | 1-Butanol | Butanol |
| C5H11OH | 1-Pentanol | Amyl alcohol |
| C16H33OH | Hexadecan-1-ol | Cetyl alcohol |
| Polyhydric alcohols | ||
| C2H4(OH)2 | Ethane-1,2-diol | Ethylene glycol |
| C3H6(OH)2 | Propane-1,2-diol | Propylene glycol |
| C3H5(OH)3 | Propane-1,2,3-triol | Glycerol |
| C4H6(OH)4 | Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol | Erythritol, Threitol |
| C5H7(OH)5 | Pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol | Xylitol |
| C6H8(OH)6 | Hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol | Mannitol, Sorbitol |
| C7H9(OH)7 | Heptane-1,2,3,4,5,6,7-heptol | Volemitol |
| Unsaturated aliphatic alcohols | ||
| C3H5OH | Prop-2-ene-1-ol | Allyl alcohol |
| C10H17OH | 3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol | Geraniol |
| C3H3OH | Prop-2-in-1-ol | Propargyl alcohol |
| Alicyclic alcohols | ||
| C6H6(OH)6 | Cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol | Inositol |
| C10H19OH | 2 - (2-propyl)-5-methyl-cyclohexane-1-ol | Menthol |
Physical and chemical properties
Applications
Preparation
Reactions
Oxidation
Primary alcohols can be oxidized either to aldehydes or to carboxylic acids, while the oxidation of secondary alcohols normally terminates at the ketone stage. Tertiary alcohols are resistant to oxidation.
The direct oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids normally proceeds via the corresponding aldehyde, which is transformed via an aldehyde hydrate by reaction with water before it can be further oxidized to the carboxylic acid.
Reagents useful for the transformation of primary alcohols to aldehydes are normally also suitable for the oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones. These include Collins reagent and Dess-Martin periodinane. The direct oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids can be carried out using potassium permanganate or the Jones reagent.
Esterification
The esterification is a reaction of an alcohol with an acid, the result is an ester.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a process of separating all the water molecules from the alcohol. This is done with a dehydrating agent which is more hygroscopic than the alcohol, one such example are the alkali metals or dehydrated calcium chloride.
