14.1 Properties of Alcohols
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What is the functional group for alcohols?
-OH
What is the name for the alcohol functional group?
Hydroxyl group
What is the functional group of alcohols responsible for?
Both the physical and chemical properties of the alcohols.
What is ethanol used for?
Alcoholic drinks, fuel, solvents
What is the suffix for alcohols?
-ol
What are the key physical properties of alcohols?
Less volatile, higher melting points, decreasing water solubility.
Do the differences between alcohols become bigger or smaller as the length of the carbon chain increases?
Smaller
Describe the forces in an alcohol.
• Alcohols have a polar -OH bond because of the difference in electronegativity of oxygen and hydrogen atoms. • Alcohol molecules are therefore polar and have permanent dipole-dipole interactions • Also have London forces • But, there is also stronger hydrogen bonds between the polar -OH groups
Explain why alcohols have low volatility and high boiling points.
• In the liquid state, intermolecular hydrogen bonds hold the alcohol molecules together. • These bonds must be broken to change the liquid alcohol into a gas, which requires more energy than overcoming the weaker London forces in alkanes.
Explain why alcohols are soluble in water
• A compound that can form hydrogen bonds with water is far more water-soluble than a compound that cannot • The hydrogens in water interact with the polar -OH group of an alcohol • As the hydrogen chain increases in size, the influence of the -OH group becomes relatively smaller, and the solubility of longer-chain alcohols decreases.
What are the 3 things that alcohols can be classified as?
Primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohols.
What is a primary alcohol?
An alcohol whereby the -OH group is attached to a carbon atom ATTACHED TO ONE ALKYL GROUP (Carbon)
What is a secondary alcohol?
An alcohol whereby the -OH group is attached to a carbon atom ATTACHED TO TWO ALKYL GROUPS (Carbon)
What is a tertiary alcohol?
An alcohol whereby the -OH group is attached to a carbon atom ATTACHED TO THREE ALKYL GROUPS (Carbon)
Why does the solubility of alcohols decrease as the chain length increases?
Because the relative size of the -OH group decreases, so therefore there are less interactions with water, meaning they become less soluble.