Alcohols

Alcohols

1. organic compounds

   • basis of all living things
   • contain carbon

2. uses and properties

   • drinking
   • solvents eg perfume , medicines
   • fuels ( ethanol)
   • burn in air very well in a combustion reaction (release CO2 and H2O)
   • react with sodium to produce hydrogen
   • dissolve in water to form a neutral solution

3. methanol ( CH3OH)

4. contain the functional group - OH

5. homologus series - family of compounds with the same general formula and have similar chemical properties

6. ethanol ( CH3CH2OH)

   • ( by oxidising agents or microbes)oxidised ethanol becomes ethanoic acid (vinegar)
     • ethanol is harmful....in small amounts cause drunkness....large amounts can be toxic and cause death
       • carbon neutral

7. propanol (CH3CH2CH2OH)

8. Carboxylic acid

   • functional group is - COOH
   • Esters
     • functional group - COO
     • methyl methanoate ( HCOOCH3)
     • methyl ethanoate( CH3COOCH3
     • ethyl propanoate( CH3CH2COOCH2CH3
     • can be made by the reaction of alcohold and carboxylic acids. reaction is slow an so is carried out in the prsence of a concentrated acid like sulfuric acid which acts as a catylst
     • responsible for smells and flavours of many fruits...esters can either be extracted from fruits or made artifically from alcohois and carboxylic acids
       • also can be used as flavourings in foods
     • volatile liquids---- meaning low boiling points and readily evaporate so they can reach scent receptors in your nose. also smell pleasant so often used as purfumes
   • methanoic acid ( HCOOH)
   • ethanoic acid ( CH3COOH )
   • propanoic acid ( CHCCH2COOH )
   • dissolve in water to produce acidic solutions
   • react with carbonates to produce CO2 eg ethanoic acid + sodium carbonate = sodium ethanoate + water + carbon dioxide
   • react with alcohols ( and acid catalyst) to make esters
   • do not ionise completely in water - weak acids
   • aqueous solutions have a higher pH than aqueous solutions of strong acids with the same concentration
   • Vinegar and aspirin
   • butanoic acid - smell of rancid butter and present in human sweat and methanoic acid is found in ant stings