Here,in this post you will gets the notes of "properties and preparation of ALCOHOL" and all the organic conversion which is related about ALCOHOL chapter for class 12.you can download the pdf file by clicking download button icon. Share it with your friends.keep learning.Thank you.
Alcohols are a class of organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to a carbon atom in a hydrocarbon chain. They are among the most commonly used organic compounds and are important both as solvents and as reagents in organic synthesis. The general formula for alcohols is R-OH, where R is a hydrocarbon group.
Structure of Alcohols:
Alcohols have a characteristic -OH group attached to one of the carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. This hydroxyl group is polar due to the electronegativity of the oxygen atom, which makes alcohols more polar than other hydrocarbons such as alkanes and alkenes. The polarity of alcohols allows them to form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, which contributes to their solubility in water.
Classification of Alcohols:
Alcohols can be classified based on the number of -OH groups present in the molecule. Monohydric alcohols contain one -OH group, such as methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH). Polyhydric alcohols contain two or more -OH groups, such as ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH) and glycerol (HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OH).
Physical Properties of Alcohols:
The physical properties of alcohols depend on the number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain, the size of the -OH group, and the number of -OH groups in the molecule. Alcohols with small hydrocarbon chains and small -OH groups are more soluble in water than those with larger hydrocarbon chains and larger -OH groups. Alcohols with higher molecular weight have higher boiling points and lower vapor pressures than those with lower molecular weight.
Chemical Properties of Alcohols:
The -OH group in alcohols makes them reactive towards various chemical reactions. Alcohols can undergo oxidation and reduction reactions, dehydration reactions, and esterification reactions.
Oxidation reactions involve the loss of electrons and the gain of oxygen atoms. Primary alcohols can be oxidized to aldehydes and carboxylic acids, while secondary alcohols can be oxidized to ketones. Tertiary alcohols are resistant to oxidation.
Reduction reactions involve the gain of electrons and the loss of oxygen atoms. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to primary and secondary alcohols, respectively, using reducing agents such as lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4).
Dehydration reactions involve the removal of a molecule of water from an alcohol molecule, resulting in the formation of an alkene. This reaction is catalyzed by strong acids such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or phosphoric acid (H3PO4).
Esterification reactions involve the reaction of an alcohol with a carboxylic acid to form an ester and water. This reaction is catalyzed by strong acids such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid (HCl).
Preparation of Alcohols:
Alcohols can be prepared by a variety of methods, such as the hydration of alkenes, reduction of carbonyl compounds, and the reaction of Grignard reagents with carbonyl compounds. The most common method for the preparation of alcohols is the hydration of alkenes, which involves the addition of water to an alkene molecule in the presence of a catalyst such as sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
Applications of Alcohols:
Alcohols are used in a wide range of industrial applications, such as solvents, fuels, and antifreeze agents.
