This document summarizes the structures, properties, and preparation of alcohols. It defines alcohols as organic compounds containing a hydroxyl group attached to an alkyl group, giving them both non-polar and polar regions. Alcohols can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary depending on the number of carbons bound to the hydroxyl carbon. Higher molecular weight alcohols have higher boiling points due to hydrogen bonding. Alcohols with shorter alkyl chains up to four carbons are water soluble, while longer chains are not. Common methods for preparing alcohols include hydration of alkenes, reduction of carboxylic acids and esters, and fermentation of sugars
2. Structure and Physical
Properties
ALCOHOL
An organic compound containing a
hydroxyl group attached to an alkyl group.
a non-polar (alkane-like) chain.
a polar hydroxyl group.
Alcohols have the general formula: R-OH, where R involves a
saturated C-atom (bound to hydrogen's and/or other carbons).
For example:
3. Classification of alcohols
Alcohols may be classified as 1o (Primary), 2o (Secondary), or 3o
(Tertiary), by considering the number of carbons bound to the
hydroxyl-bearing carbon.
Ethanol is a primary alcohol because there is only one alkyl
group attached to the carbon that carries the OH substituent.
The isopropyl alcohol found in rubbing alcohol is a
secondary alcohol,
An example of a tertiary alcohol is tert-butyl (or t-butyl)
alcohol or 2-methyl-2-propanol.
RCH2OH R3COHR2CHOH
4. R-O-H has a structure similar to that of water
Higher boiling points.
Hydrogen
Bond in
Water
Hydrogen
Bond in
Alcohol
5. Classification of alcohols
Solubility
The Lower the molecular weight of alcohols, the higher the
solubility in water.
The water-solubility of alcohols depends on the length of
the alkyl chain in the alcohol.
alcohols having chains longer than four carbons are not
very water-soluble.
3-4 carbons or less ARE soluble in water
Alcohols with more than one hydroxyl group (polyhydroxyl alcohols)
have higher boiling points than monohydroxyl alcohols.
We already saw that the boiling points of alkanes increase with
increasing chain length. The same is true for alcohols.
6. O
CH3 H
O
CH3 H
Alcohols having chains SHORTER than four carbons are very
water-soluble
Methanol is Soluble and Miscible in water
Methanol
7. Butanol
Alcohols having chains LONGER
than Three carbons are not very
water-soluble
Butanol is Soluble but not Miscible
in water
8. Formula Name
Solubility in
Water (g/100 g)
CH3OH methanol infinitely soluble
CH3CH2OH ethanol infinitely soluble
CH3(CH2)2OH propanol infinitely soluble
CH3(CH2)3OH butanol 9
CH3(CH2)4OH pentanol 2.7
CH3(CH2)5OH hexanol 0.6
CH3(CH2)6OH heptanol 0.18
CH3(CH2)7OH octanol 0.054
CH3(CH2)9OH decanol insoluble in water
Solubilities of ALCOHOL in water
9. Approximately 600,000 students per year are assaulted
by a drinking student.
Research suggests that women are more vulnerable
than men to many alcohol- induced problems. Some of
these include, Organ Damage, Trauma, Legal and
interpersonal difficulties.
Alcohol affects men and women differently. Women
become more impaired than men from drinking the same
amount of alcohol. This is because women:
Are generally smaller in size
Have less body water
Have less dehydrogenase.
Have more estrogen
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. In small
amounts it can have a relaxing effect.
10. Preparation of Alcohols
1.From alkenes
(i) By acid catalysed hydration:
Alcohols can be prepared by following methods
(ii) By hydroborationoxidation:
2. By reduction of carboxylic acids and esters:
3. By Fermentation
Glucose + yeast ------ alcohol + carbon dioxide
11. Preparation of Alcohols
By Fermentation
How is alcohol made?
Alcohol is commercially produced using a process called fermentation.
Many other alcohols can be made this way, but are more likely to be
produced by synthetic routes - from natural gas, oil or coal.
Fermentation?
Fermentation is the process in which yeast breaks down sugar into alcohol
and carbon dioxide. Yeast are tiny single-celled fungi that contain special
enzymes responsible for this reaction.
The word equation for this process is:
Glucose + yeast -------- alcohol + carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide gas bubbles out of the fermenting solution into the air
leaving a mixture of ethanol and water. It's important that no air is present
or the yeast will produce ethanoic acid - the chemical found in vinegar.
12. Preparation of Alcohols
By Fermentation
In this process {NADH} donates its electrons to a derivative of pyruvate,
producing ethanol.
Going from pyruvate to ethanol is a two-step process. In the first step, a
carboxyl group is removed from pyruvate and released in as carbon
dioxide, producing a two-carbon molecule called acetaldehyde. In the
second step, {NADH} passes its electrons to acetaldehyde,
regenerating {NAD+} start forming ethanol.
13. Chemical reactions of alcohols
Sure thing! Treating alcohols with HCl, HBr, or HI (which all fall under
the catch-all term HX where X is a halide) results in the formation
of alkyl halides.
This occurs in a two step process: first, the alcohol is protonated to
give its conjugate acid. Secondly, a substitution occurs.
Halogenation of alcohol