1. Alcohols contain the hydroxyl “OH” functional group
Alcohols can be formed from;
● Hydration of alkenes
● Fermentation
● Hydride nucleophilic substitution (H2O)
Hydration (non renewable)
Conditions: 300°C 60 atm H3PO4
C2H4 + H2O ➨ C2H5OH
Fermentation (renewable + carbon neutral)
Conditions: 37°C Yeast
anaerobic
C6H12O6 (aq) ➨ 2C2H5OH (aq) + 2CO2 (g)
(Fermentation of the sugar glucose)
Solubility
Alcohols dissolve in water because hydrogen bonds form between the
polar O­H groups of the alcohol and water molecules
Combustion of Alcohols
Complete combustion
C2H5OH + 3O2 ➨ 2CO2 + 3H2O
Classification
Primary = 10
2/3 Hydrogen
Secondary = 20
1 Hydrogen
Tertiary = 30
No Hydrogen

2. Oxidation of Alcohols
Conditions = Distillation/ Reflux
Reagents = K2Cr2O7 / H2SO4 [O] (oxidising agent)
During an oxidation reaction, the acidified potassium dichromate changes
from orange colour to green
Primary oxidation
Primary Alcohol + [O] ➨ Aldehyde + water
distill
Primary Alcohol + 2[O] ➨ Carboxylic Acid + water
reflux
Secondary Oxidation
Secondary Alcohol + [O] ➨ Ketone + water
Tertiary Oxidation
No oxidation as no hydrogens present
Dehydration of an Alcohol
elimination reaction
Conditions: H3PO4 or H2SO4
Alcohol ➨ Alkene + Water
Esterification
“The formation of an ester”
Conditions: Conc H2SO4
Alcohol + Carboxylic Acid ➨ Ester + Water

3. In the reaction, the O­H bond in the alcohol is broken and water is formed,
the water molecule comes from the OH of the carboxylic acid group and
the H in the alcohol group as highlighted