alcohol reactions

Industrial production of alcohols

Hydration:

Alkene + steam ——> alcohol

Conditions: 300 degrees Celsius, conc H3PO4

Fermentation to produce alcohols

Glucose ——> alcohol (ethanol) + carbon dioxide

Conditions: 37 degrees celcius, yeast, anaerobic

Reactions of alcohols

Formation of esters: addition elimination

Alcohol + carboxylic acid —-(reversible)—> ester + water

Conditions: heat under reflux, conc H2SO4

Halogenation: substitution

Alcohol + NaX ——> haloalkane + NaOH

Conditions: heat under reflux, H2SO4

Dehydration: elimination

Alcohol ——> alkene + water

Conditions: 170 and conc H2SO4 OR just conc H3PO4

Combustion:

Alcohol + excess oxygen —→ carbon dioxide + water

Conditions: RTP

Oxidation:

Classify alcohols into primary, secondary and tertiary

Primary alcohols can be distilled to produce aldehydes

Primary alcohols can be refluxed to produce carboxylic acids

Secondary alcohols can be refluxed to produce ketones

Aldehydes can be refluxed or produce carboxylic acids

Conditions: reflux or distill, oxidising agent (acidified potassium dichromate/ Cr2K2O7) O]

Changes colour from orange to green as chromium is reduced to Cr3+

Reflux apparatus- works by continuously boiling and condensing the liquid to fully oxidise it

Distillation apparatus- separates liquids with different boiling points