IGCSE (9-1)

Edexcel - Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Alcohols
NOTES
4.29c: Know that alcohols contain the functional group -OH
(Triple Science only)
Alcohol: Family of organic (carbon-based) compounds that all contain the -OH group
that is responsible for their chemical properties and reactions.

Example:

Methanol Ethanol Propanol

4.30c: Understand how to draw structural and displayed
formulae for Methanol, Ethanol, Propanol (propan-1-ol only)
and Butanol (butan-1-ol only), and name each compound
(Triple Science only)
Alcohol: Family of organic (carbon-based) compounds that all contain the -OH group
that is responsible for their chemical properties and reactions.

Structural and displayed formula for -OH group

The functional group in the alcohols is the hydroxyl group (-OH).

Alcohol Structural formula Displayed formula

METHANOL CH3OH

ETHANOL CH3CH2OH

PROPANOL CH3CH2CH2OH
BUTANOL CH3CH2CH2CH2OH
4.31c: Know that Ethanol can be oxidised by: burning in air or
Oxygen (complete combustion), reaction with oxygen in the
air to form Ethanoic acid (microbial oxidation), heating with
Potassium dichromate (vi) in dilute Sulfuric acid to form
Ethanoic acid (Triple Science only)
Ethanol: C2H5OH
Oxidation: The loss of electrons and gain in oxygen.

Oxidation of Ethanol

*complete combustion of ethanol:

Ethanol can be oxidised by the process of complete combustion as ethanol burns when
heated in air or oxygen:

Ethanol + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + water

C2H5OH 3O2 2CO2 3H2O

*microbial oxidation:

The microbial oxidation of ethanol occurs once a bottle of wine is opened. This is
caused by the bacteria in the air (acetobacter) using atmospheric oxygen from air to
oxidise the ethanol in wine, producing a weak solution of ethanoic acid (also known as
acetic acid):

Ethanol + Oxygen → Ethanoic Acid + Water

C2H5OH 3O2 CH3COOH 3H2O

So once a bottle of wine has been opened, it can quickly turn into vinegar due to the
large number of bacteria in the air.
*Heating with potassium dichromate (vi) in dilute Sulfuric acid:

Ethanol can be oxidised by heating it with an oxidising agent such as Potassium

dichromate (vi) in dilute Sulphuric acid. The alcohol is oxidized to a carboxylic acid. If
the oxidation occurs, then the orange solution containing the dichromate (vi) ions is
reduced to a green solution containing chromium (ii) ions:
4.32c: Know that ethanol can be manufactured by: reacting
ethene with steam in the presence of a phosphoric acid
catalyst at a temperature of about 300°c and a pressure of
about 60-70 atm, the fermentation of glucose, in the absence
of air, at an optimum temperature of about 30°c and using
the enzymes in yeast (Triple Science only)
Ethanol:

Ethanol (C2H5OH) is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks such as wine and beer.
It is also used as fuel for cars.

Manufacture of Ethanol

1. Reacting ethene with steam (hydration):

A mixture of ethene and steam is passed over a hot catalyst of phosphoric acid at a
temperature of 300°c and 60-70 atmospheres of pressure and is then condensed into a
liquid for use:

Equation showing the reaction that takes place between ethene and steam

Ethene + Water → Ethanol

C2H4 H2O C2H5OH

2. Fermentation of glucose:

Sugar or starch is dissolved in water and yeast is added to be fermented at 30°C with
the absence of oxygen for a few days. Yeast contains zymase enzymes (biological
catalysts) break down starch or sugar to glucose. The yeast respires anaerobically
using the glucose to form to ethanol and carbon dioxide:

Glucose → Ethanol + Water

C6H12O6 2C2H5OH + 2CO2

Equation showing the fermentation of glucose by anaerobic respiration

Comparing methods

Hydration of Ethene Fermentation

Raw materials Uses non-renewable Uses renewable resources (sugar
resources (crude oil) cane)

Type of Continuous process - a Batch process - everything is mixed

process stream of reactant is together in a reaction vessel and
constantly passed over the then left for several days. That
catalyst. This is more efficient batch is then removed and a new
than a batch process reaction is set up – this is inefficient

Rate of Fast Very slow (several days)

reaction

Quality of Produces pure ethanol Produces a dilute solution requiring

product further processing

Reaction High temperatures and Low temperatures required

conditions pressures required, increasing
the energy input and so cost
4.33c: Understand the reasons for fermentation, in the
absence of air, and at an optimum temperature (Triple
Science only)
Fermentation: a chemical process in which microorganisms such as yeast act on
carbohydrates to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide. Sugars and starch are examples
of carbohydrates.

Conditions of fermentation:

Condition Explanation
Absence of air For carbon dioxide and ethanol to be produced, yeast needs to
respire anaerobically (absence of oxygen)

Optimum Optimum temperature is needed to prevent the denaturation of

temperature enzymes (if temperature is too high) and to increase the enzyme
activity by creating an optimum environment. 30 C is used for
fermentation.