Alcohols

Question 1

What is the functional group of alcohol?

Answer 1

OH (hydroxyl)

Question 2

What are primary alcohols?

Answer 2

An alcohol in which the OH group is attached to a carbon that is only attached to one other carbon

Question 3

What are secondary alcohols?

Answer 3

An alcohol in which the OH group is attached to a carbon that is attached to two other carbons

Question 4

What are tertiary alcohols?

Answer 4

An alcohol in which the OH group is attached to a carbon that is attached to three other carbons

Question 5

What does the polarity of alcohols suggest?

Answer 5

Alcohols are polar covalent molecules and so are soluble in water.

Question 6

How does hydrogen bonding affect the boiling / melting point?

Answer 6

The more hydroxyl groups there are, the higher the MP / BP due to the strong intermolecular attraction between molecules.

Question 7

How does hydrogen bonding affect the viscosity of alcohols?

Answer 7

Due to strong hydrogen bonds between molecules, there is more resistance to flow, hence molecules don’t easily slide past each other. Higher internal friction also plays a part in increasing viscosity, as the increasing stickiness causes greater resistance when the liquid flows.