Alcohol Flashcards
How are alcohols classified?
-primary
-secondary
-tertiary
What is a primary alcohol?
when the carbon atom which the OH is bonded to is bonded to 1 other carbon
what is a secondary alcohol?
it’s when the carbon which the OH is bonded to, is bonded to 2 other carbons
what is a tertiary alcohol?
it’s when the carbon which the OH is bonded to is bonded to 3 other carbon atoms
what is the oxidising agent for alcohols?
K2Cr2O7 = acidified potassium dichromate
when primary alcohols are partially oxidised what is the product?
aldehydes
what are the conditions for the partial oxidation of primary alcohols?
- limited K2CR2O7
-warm
-distil out aldehyde as it forms
what is the product of full oxidation of primary alcohols?
carboxylic acid
what are the reactants and conditions for the full oxidation of primary alcohols?
-excess K2Cr2O7 / potassium dichromate
&
-heat under reflux, distil product after the reaction is finished
reagent- K2Cr2O7/H+
what is the product of the oxidation of a secondary alcohol?
a ketone
what is the conditions and reagent when a secondary alcohol gets oxidised?
reagent: K2Cr2O7 & dilute sulphuric acid
conditions: heat under reflux
what happens to the colour of potassium dichromate when a secondary alcohol is oxidised?
goes from orange to green
why can’t tertiary alcohols be oxidised at all?
because there is no hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon with the OH group
what is the product when alcohols react with dehydrating agents?
an alkene
what are the regents, catalyst and conditions of a alcohol reacting with a dehydrating agent?
reagent: concentrated sulphuric acid & phosphoric acid
conditions: warm under reflux
catalyst- acid catalyst
