Topic 16
Hydroxy Compounds
Topic 16 covers the six routes to alcohols (hydration, diol formation, substitution of halogenoalkanes, reduction of carbonyls and acids, ester hydrolysis), combustion, substitution to halogenoalkanes with HX, KCl and concentrated acid, PCl₃, PCl₅ and SOCl₂, the reaction with sodium, oxidation with acidified dichromate(VI) or manganate(VII) by distillation or reflux, dehydration with a heated catalyst or concentrated acid, esterification, classification, the tri-iodomethane test and the acidity of alcohols compared with water.
Revision Notes
5 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.
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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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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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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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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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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Alcohols Map
Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 16 Hydroxy compounds
Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.
Alcohols Summary Map
Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 16 Hydroxy compounds
The whole topic on one A4 page: names and classes, producing alcohols, halogenoalkanes and alkenes, sodium and esters, oxidation, and purifying a liquid, with worked examples.
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16.1.1
- a
recall the reaction (reagents and conditions) by which alcohols can be produced: electrophilic addition of steam to an alkene, H2O(g) and H3PO4 catalyst
Revise - b
recall the reaction (reagents and conditions) by which alcohols can be produced: reaction of alkenes with cold dilute acidified potassium manganate(VII) to form a diol
Revise - c
recall the reaction (reagents and conditions) by which alcohols can be produced: substitution of a halogenoalkane using NaOH(aq) and heat
Revise - d
recall the reaction (reagents and conditions) by which alcohols can be produced: reduction of an aldehyde or ketone using NaBH4 or LiAlH4
Revise - e
recall the reaction (reagents and conditions) by which alcohols can be produced: reduction of a carboxylic acid using LiAlH4
Revise - f
recall the reaction (reagents and conditions) by which alcohols can be produced: hydrolysis of an ester using dilute acid or dilute alkali and heat
Revise
16.1.2
- b ii
describe substitution of alcohols to form halogenoalkanes with KCl and concentrated H2SO4 or concentrated H3PO4
Revise - d (i)
describe oxidation of alcohols with acidified K2Cr2O7 or acidified KMnO4 to carbonyl compounds by distillation
Revise - d (ii) a
describe oxidation of alcohols with acidified K2Cr2O7 or acidified KMnO4 to carboxylic acids by refluxing
Revise - d (ii) b
describe that primary alcohols give aldehydes which can be further oxidised to carboxylic acids
Revise - f
describe formation of esters by reaction of alcohols with carboxylic acids and concentrated H2SO4 as catalyst as exemplified by ethanol
Revise
16.1.3
- a ii
classify alcohols as primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, to include examples with more than one alcohol group
Revise - b
state characteristic distinguishing reactions of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, e.g. mild oxidation with acidified K2Cr2O7, colour change from orange to green
Revise
16.1.4
- 16.1.4
deduce the presence of a CH3CH(OH)– group in an alcohol, CH3CH(OH)–R, from its reaction with alkaline I2(aq) to form a yellow precipitate of tri-iodomethane and an ion, RCO2–
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16.1.5
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