Alcohol Production

Question 1

Alcohols are compounds that contain at least one

Answer 1

hydroxy (-OH) group

Question 2

The general formula of alcohols is

Answer 2

CnH2n+1OH

Question 3

Electrophilic addition to alkenes

how does this make alcohol and example equation

Answer 3

When hot steam is reacted with an alkene, using concentrated phosphoric(VI) acid (H3PO4) or sulfuric acid as a catalyst, electrophilic addition takes place to form an alcohol

ethene + H20(steam) > (heat H3PO4) + ethanol

Question 4

Oxidation of alkenes how does this form alcohols and equation

Answer 4

Cold, dilute KMnO4 is a mild oxidising agent and oxidises alkenes

The C=C double bond is broken open and a diol is formed

A diol is a compound with two hydroxy, -OH, groups

ethene + water + O(KMnO4) > ethane-1,2- diol

Question 5

Nucleophilic substitution of halogenoalkanes

how doe this form alcohols and equation

Answer 5

The halide atom in halogenoalkanes can be substituted when heated with aqueous NaOH in a nucleophilic substitution reaction

bromoethane + NaOh >(heat) ethanol + NaBr

Question 6

Reduction of aldehyde & ketones

how do these form alcohols

Answer 6

Aldehydes are reduced to primary alcohols
The carbon attached to the hydroxy group is bonded to one other alkyl group

Ketones are reduced to secondary alcohols
The carbon attached to the hydroxy group is bonded to two other alkyl groups

Question 7

Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by reducing agents such as

Answer 7

NaBH4 or LiAlH4

Question 8

aldehyde functional group

Answer 8

double bonded oxygen

and hydrogen bonded to carbon

Question 9

ketones

Answer 9

double bonded oxygen in the middle atom

Question 10

Reduction of carboxylic acids
Similarly, carboxylic acids are reduced by

and equation

Answer 10

NaBH4 or LiAlH4 to primary alcohols

Carboxylic acids can also be reduced by H2 using a nickel catalyst and heat

ethanoic acid + 4(H) to ethanol and water

ethanoic acid + 2H2 >(catalysed in heat) ethanol + water

Question 11

Hydrolysis of ester
Esters are made by a condensation reaction between an

how does it form a alcohol

Answer 11

alcohol and a carboxylic acid

When an ester is heated with dilute acid or alkali, hydrolysis will take place and the carboxylic acid and alcohol will be reformed

ethylethanoate + h2o >(h+) ethanoic acid and ethanol

ethylethanoate + NaOH > sodium ethanoate (one o- and Na +) + ethanol

Question 12

The symbol [O] is used to represent oxygen provided by an …………..

Answer 12

oxidising agent