Questions and Answers
What is an example of a primary alcohol?
Which one of the following is a secondary alcohol?
Which of the following is an example of a tertiary alcohol?
Phenols do not resemble alcohols structurally.
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What is one property of phenols?
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What is a property of alcohols?
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What does the Chromic Acid Test distinguish?
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What does the Lucas Test distinguish?
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Study Notes
Classification of Alcohols
- Primary Alcohol: Contains one alkyl group attached to the carbon with the hydroxyl group; example: Ethanol.
- Secondary Alcohol: Contains two alkyl groups attached to the carbon with the hydroxyl group; example: 2-Propanol (isopropyl alcohol).
- Tertiary Alcohol: Contains three alkyl groups attached to the carbon with the hydroxyl group; example: 2-Methyl-2-propanol (t-butyl alcohol).
Phenols
- Structurally similar to alcohols due to the presence of a hydroxyl group.
Properties of Phenols
- More acidic than alcohols.
- Concentrated phenol solutions are toxic and can cause severe skin burns.
- Polar and generally mixes with water.
Properties of Alcohols
- Alcohols mix well with water.
- Increased number of hydroxyl groups enhances water solubility due to more hydrogen bonding.
- Also soluble in organic solvents.
Chromic Acid Test
- Distinguishes primary and secondary alcohols from tertiary alcohols.
- Uses acidified dichromate solution where:
- Primary alcohols oxidize to carboxylic acids.
- Secondary alcohols oxidize to ketones.
- Tertiary alcohols do not oxidize, showing no reaction.
- The color change from red/brown to blue/green indicates oxidation.
- Phenols oxidize to a brown tarry mass.
Lucas Test
- Differentiates water-soluble primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols using Lucas reagent (ZnCl2 in HCl).
- Tertiary alcohols react rapidly, forming an insoluble white layer immediately.
- Secondary alcohols react slowly, forming a thin white layer after slight heating within 10 minutes.
- Primary alcohols do not react.
- Positive results show a heterogeneous phase or emulsion.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the classification of alcohols and phenols with these flashcards. Explore primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, as well as the properties of phenols. A great resource for chemistry students to reinforce their understanding of these compounds.
