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AQA A Level Chemistry

3.3.5
Alcohols

Section 3.3.5 covers the production of ethanol by hydration of ethene and by fermentation, biofuels and the carbon-neutral argument, the classification of alcohols, oxidation with acidified potassium dichromate(VI) to aldehydes, carboxylic acids and ketones with the tests that distinguish them, and the acid-catalysed elimination of water to form alkenes with its mechanism. The techniques page supports required practical 5.

Exam Paper
Paper 2
7405/2
Specification Points
3.3.5.1 – 3.3.5.3
3 sections covered
Sub-topics
5 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
AQA
7405 (2015 onwards)

Revision Notes

5 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.

Primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols side by side
1

Alcohols: Naming, Classification and Properties

Alcohols: nomenclature, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, hydrogen bonding, boiling temperatures and solubility.

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A fermentation flask with yeast and an airlock
2

Producing Alcohols: Hydration, Fermentation and Biofuels

Producing ethanol: hydration of ethene, fermentation of glucose, conditions and comparison, biofuels and carbon neutrality.

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An orange solution turning green in a water bath
3

Oxidation of Alcohols

The oxidation of alcohols: acidified dichromate(VI), aldehydes, carboxylic acids and ketones, distillation versus reflux, [O] equations and tests for aldehydes and acids.

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Alcohol vapour passing over hot aluminium oxide
4

Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alcohols

Reactions of alcohols: combustion, halogenation with PCl₅, KBr and sulfuric acid, and red phosphorus and iodine, and dehydration to alkenes.

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A flask heated under reflux
5

Preparing and Purifying Organic Liquids

Preparing and purifying organic liquids: reflux, distillation, separating funnel, drying agents, boiling temperature and percentage yield.

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Summary Map

Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.

Summary maps

Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.

Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
Summary map · PDF

Alcohols Map

AQA A Level Chemistry · 3.3.5 Alcohols

Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.

Download the map6 reactions · A4 portrait · print ready
Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
Summary map · PDF

Alcohols Summary Map

AQA A-level Chemistry · 3.3.5 Alcohols

The whole section on one A4 page: names and classes, producing alcohols, biofuels, alkenes from alcohols, oxidation, and purifying a liquid, with worked examples.

Download the map6 key ideas + a data table · A4 portrait · print ready

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Revision Game

Match reagents to products, free, with your board's reagents and conditions.

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Revision Game: Alcohols

Turn the cards over two at a time: match reagents to what they make, and find how each product is made.

A free memory game on the reactions in this topic, with your board's reagents, conditions and spec points.

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Study Cards

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Specification

Every specification point in this topic, in the exam board's own words. Rate how confident you are with each one.

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Self-assessment · 22 points

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3.3.5.1

  1. i

    know that alcohols are produced industrially by hydration of alkenes in the presence of an acid catalyst

    Revise
  2. ii

    know that ethanol is produced industrially by fermentation of glucose and know the conditions for this process

    Revise
  3. iii

    know that ethanol from fermentation is separated by fractional distillation and can be used as a biofuel

    Revise
  4. iv

    explain the meaning of the term biofuel

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  5. v

    justify the conditions used in the production of ethanol by fermentation of glucose

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  6. vi a

    write equations to support the statement that ethanol produced by fermentation is a carbon neutral fuel

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  7. vi b

    give reasons why the statement that ethanol produced by fermentation is a carbon neutral fuel is not valid

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  8. vii

    outline the mechanism for the formation of an alcohol by the reaction of an alkene with steam in the presence of an acid catalyst

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  9. viii

    discuss the environmental and ethical issues linked to decision making about biofuel use

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3.3.5.2

  1. i

    know that alcohols are classified as primary, secondary and tertiary

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  2. ii a

    know that primary alcohols can be oxidised to aldehydes

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  3. ii b

    know that aldehydes from primary alcohols can be further oxidised to carboxylic acids

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  4. iii

    know that secondary alcohols can be oxidised to ketones

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  5. iv

    know that tertiary alcohols are not easily oxidised

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  6. v

    know that acidified potassium dichromate(VI) is a suitable oxidising agent for alcohols

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  7. vi

    write equations for oxidation reactions of alcohols using [O] as oxidant

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  8. vii

    explain how the method used to oxidise a primary alcohol determines whether an aldehyde or carboxylic acid is obtained

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  9. viii a

    use Fehling's solution to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones

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  10. viii b

    use Tollens' reagent to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones

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3.3.5.3

  1. i

    know that alkenes can be formed from alcohols by acid-catalysed elimination reactions

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  2. ii

    know that alkenes produced this way can be used to produce addition polymers without monomers derived from crude oil

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  3. iii

    outline the mechanism for the elimination of water from alcohols

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