Alcohols

ALCOHOLS are organic compounds containing the FUNCTIONAL GROUP (-OH) attached to a carbon atom. This group is responsible for the unique properties and reactions of alcohols.

EXAMPLES of alcohols include METHANOL (CH₃OH), ETHANOL (C₂H₅OH), PROPANOL (C₃H₇OH), and BUTANOL (C₄H₉OH), which are the FIRST FOUR MEMBERS of the alcohol HOMOLOGOUS series.

Reactions of Alcohols

COMBUSTION:

• Alcohols burn in air to produce WATER and CARBON DIOXIDE.

SOLUBILITY IN WATER:

• ALCOHOLS do NOT react when added to WATER.
• They are SOLUBLE in water and form solutions with a NEUTRAL pH.

REACTION WITH SODIUM:

• SODIUM reacts with alcohols to produce HYDROGEN GAS.
• Chemical Equation not needed

OXIDATION:

• Alcohols can be OXIDISED using an OXIDISING AGENT to form CARBOXYLIC ACIDS.
• Chemical Equation not needed

Uses Of Alcohols

• SOLVENT: Due to their ability to DISSOLVE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, alcohols are widely used as solvents in INDUSTRIES.
• FUEL: Ethanol is often used as a BIOFUEL, either in its PURE FORM or as a blend with GASOLINE.
• DISINFECTANT: Alcohols are used in HAND GELS as they KILL MICROBES.

Fermentation

FERMENTATION is a BIOLOGICAL process where SUGARS ARE CONVERTED into ETHANOL and CARBON DIOXIDE by the action of YEAST. 

This process requires:

• ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS (absence of oxygen) 
• TEMPERATURES OF 37°C 
• SLIGHTLY ACIDIC pH LEVELS