Alcohols Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What are the molecular formulae of methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and butan-1-ol?

$\mathrm{CH_3OH}$, $\mathrm{C_2H_5OH}$, $\mathrm{C_3H_7OH}$, $\mathrm{C_4H_9OH}$.
General formula: $\mathrm{C_nH_{2n+1}OH}$

What is the functional group in alcohols?

–OH, the hydroxyl group.

What type of compound is formed when an alcohol is dehydrated?
e.g. dehydrating propanol

An alkene (water is lost).
Propanol → propene + water

How do you draw the displayed structure of an alcohol?
e.g. ethanol, $\mathrm{C_2H_5OH}$

1. Draw the carbon chain joined by single bonds: C–C
2. Put an –O–H group on the end carbon: C–C–O–H
3. Add H atoms so each carbon has 4 bonds (no double bonds anywhere)

True or false? The functional group in alcohols is –OH, which is called the hydroxide group.

False. It is called the hydroxyl group; 'hydroxide' is not accepted.

Why do methanol, ethanol and propan-1-ol have similar chemical reactions?

They are in the same homologous series — their molecules all contain the same functional group, –OH.