- Combustion: Alcohols burn in air to give CO₂, H₂O, and heat. Ethanol burns with a pale blue flame.
- Oxidation: Alcohols oxidise to aldehydes and then to acids using acidified K₂Cr₂O₇ or KMnO₄.
- Reaction with Sodium: Forms alkoxides and H₂ gas with effervescence (e.g., sodium ethoxide).
- Esterification: React with acetic acid in the presence of conc. H₂SO₄ to form fruity-smelling esters.
- Dehydration:
- At 170°C → forms alkene (e.g., ethene)
- At 140°C → forms ether (e.g., diethyl ether)
Key Points
Key Points: Physical Properties of Alcohols
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Nature | Inflammable, volatile, colourless liquids with a faint odour and burning taste |
| Boiling Point | Increases with molecular weight • CH₃OH: 64.5°C • C₂H₅OH: 78.3°C |
| Solubility | Soluble in water and organic solvents |
| Density | Ethanol is lighter than water; specific gravity = 0.79 at 293 K |
| Toxicity | Methyl alcohol is toxic and can cause blindness or death if consumed |
key Points: Chemical Properties of Alcohols
Concepts [28]
- Introduction of Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers
- Uses of Alcohols
- Classification of Alcohols
- Nomenclature of Alcohols
- Isomerism in Alcohols
- Structure of functional group (-OH) of Alcohols
- Methods of Preparation of Alcohols
- Preparation of Commercially Important Alcohols
- Physical Properties of Alcohols
- Chemical Properties of Alcohols
- Phenols
- Classification of Phenols
- Nomenclature of phenols
- Structure of Functional Group (Ar - OH) of Phenol
- Methods of Preparation of Phenols
- Physical Properties of phenol
- Chemical Properties of Phenol
- Acidic Nature of Phenol
- Uses of Phenols
- Ethers
- Classification of Ethers
- Nomenclature of ethers
- Structure of functional group (R-O-R')
- Isomerism of Ether
- Preparation of Ethers
- Physical Properties of Ethers
- Chemical Properties of Ethers
- Uses of Ethers
