BRAINCAKEAlcohols
Revision notes for Alcohols in AQA Chemistry (7404). Every lesson in BrainCake comes with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps, a quick check and spaced reviews.
- AlcoholsAlcohols are a homologous series of organic compounds containing the hydroxyl functional group, -OH, bonded to a saturated carbon atom.
- Naming AlcoholsAlcohols are named using IUPAC rules, with the suffix -ol replacing the final -e of the parent alkane.
- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary AlcoholsAlcohols are classified by the number of carbon atoms bonded to the carbon atom that carries the -OH group.
- Ethanol by FermentationFermentation is the conversion of sugars such as glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide by enzymes in yeast: C6H12O6(aq) → 2CH3CH2OH(aq) + 2CO2(g)…
- Ethanol by Hydration of EtheneIndustrially, ethanol is made on a large scale by the hydration of ethene with steam: CH2=CH2(g) + H2O(g) ⇌ CH3CH2OH(g) Conditions: a concentrated…
- Biofuels and Carbon NeutralityA biofuel is a fuel produced from biomass (recently living material).
- Oxidation of AlcoholsAlcohols can be oxidised by acidified potassium dichromate(VI): potassium dichromate(VI), K2Cr2O7, with dilute sulfuric acid.
- Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes and Carboxylic AcidsA primary alcohol is oxidised by acidified potassium dichromate(VI) in two stages: first to an aldehyde, then to a carboxylic acid.
- Oxidation of Secondary AlcoholsSecondary alcohols are oxidised by acidified potassium dichromate(VI) to ketones.
- Distinguishing Aldehydes and KetonesAldehydes can be oxidised further to carboxylic acids, but ketones cannot.
- Dehydration of AlcoholsDehydration is an elimination reaction in which a molecule of water is removed from an alcohol to form an alkene: CH3CH2OH → CH2=CH2 + H2O…
- Mechanism of DehydrationThe acid-catalysed dehydration of an alcohol is an elimination reaction.
- Reflux and DistillationTwo heating methods are used when preparing organic liquids, for example in the oxidation of alcohols.
On the specification
- 3.3.5.1 Alcohol production
- 3.3.5.2 Oxidation of alcohols
- 3.3.5.3 Elimination