What is Alcohol in Chemistry?
Alcohols in chemistry are organic compounds that contain the hydroxyl functional group (-OH) bonded to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl. They are among the most important molecules in organic chemistry, with a wide range of applications. They can be converted into various other compounds. They can be named using common names or IUPAC nomenclature with the suffix -ol. They have the general formula ROH, where R is an alkyl group. Alcohols are known for their diverse physical and chemical properties, and they play a significant role in various industrial processes and natural occurrences. Examples of alcohol include methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc.
Characteristics of Alcohol
The characteristics of alcohol are as follows:
- Odor: Alcohols have a sweet smell, except for glycerol and a few lower alcohols.
- Colour: Most common alcohols are colourless at room temperature, but higher alcohols with more carbon atoms can be viscous or oily, and some may be solids at room temperature
- Solubility: Alcohols are soluble in water as they form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The solubility decreases with increase in the size of the alkyl group.
- Acidity: Alcohols are acidic, as they can react with active metals like sodium and potassium to form alkoxides. Primary alcohols are more acidic than secondary and tertiary alcohols.
- Polarity: Alcohols are polar compounds, as they have a polar -OH bond. This polarity makes them more soluble in water than simple hydrocarbons.
- Flammability: Alcohols are highly flammable, as they evaporate quickly and form a vapour-air mixture that can ignite
- Reactivity: Alcohols undergo oxidation, dehydration, and esterification reactions.
Oxidation of Alcohol
Oxidation of Alcohols is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry that converts alcohols to carbonyl-containing compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids. Alcohols are organic compounds with the functional group -OH. The mechanism of alcohol oxidation typically involves the reduction of the oxidizing agent and the formation of a carbon-oxygen double bond.
In this article, we look into what alcohol is, the Types of alcohols, the mechanism of oxidation of alcohols, uses of alcohols, etc.
Table of Content
- What is Alcohol in Chemistry?
- Products of Alcohol Oxidation
- Oxidation of Alcohol into Aldehydes and Ketone
- Making of Aldehyde from Alcohol
- Making of Ketone from Alcohol
- Making Carboxylic Acid from Alcohol
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