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Properties and Production of Alcohols

The document discusses the properties and production methods of alcohols, particularly ethanol, which can be produced through fermentation of sugars or the hydration of ethene. It outlines the chemical reactions involved in both processes, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Additionally, it mentions the combustion of alcohols, noting their effectiveness as fuels.

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45 views8 pages

Properties and Production of Alcohols

The document discusses the properties and production methods of alcohols, particularly ethanol, which can be produced through fermentation of sugars or the hydration of ethene. It outlines the chemical reactions involved in both processes, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Additionally, it mentions the combustion of alcohols, noting their effectiveness as fuels.

Uploaded by

sista.decarlo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as KEY, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

+

Organic Chemistry
Lesson 9
+
Properties of alcohols

Alcohols are members of the


same homologous series
Functional group -OH
general formula is CnH2n+1OH
saturated – no more atoms can
be added to their formula
contain at least one -OH group
somewhere in their structure
+
Alcohol properties
+
Fermentation
Ethanol can be produced by fermentation
of sugars.
Raw materials are mixed with water and yeast
just above room temperature.
Yeast contains enzymes which are biological
catalysts. Sugars react to form ethanol and
carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is allowed to escape and air is
prevented from entering the reaction vessel to
stop oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid
(vinegar!).
The ethanol is separated from the reaction
mixture by fractional distillation
Write the word and balanced symbol
equations for the formation of ethanol

glucose ethanol + carbon


dioxide
C6H12O6(aq) 2C2H5OH(aq) +
2CO2(g)
+
Ethanol production
Ethanol can also be produced by the
reaction of steam and ethene

In the presence of a strong acid catalyst


A moderately high temperature (e.g. 300oC)
and a high pressure are used
A reversible reaction
The higher temperature and catalyst speed
up the reaction and increasing pressure
moves the equilibrium to the right (side
with fewer gaseous molecules)
C2H4the
Write (g) symbol
+ H2O(g)
equation for
C2reaction
this H5OH(g)
FORMATION OF ALCOHOLS

Fermentatio Hydration of
n ethene
+ +
Fast reaction
Cheap
Efficient continuous
Renewable
process
resource like
Relatively pure product
sugar cane
Country may have local
(Brazil), sugar
oil supply (e.g. North Sea
beet
for UK, Middle East
countries)
Slow reaction - -
Inefficient batch
process Non-renewable finite
Poor quality product resource (crude
Other organic oil/cracking)
chemicals formed
Yeast impurities
Large areas of
agricultural land
needed
COMBUSTION OF ALCOHOLS

Alcohols are good fuels


They burn with a clean flame and ignite easily
Write the complete and incomplete
combustion of ethanol

Complete combustion
C2H5OH(l) + 2O2(g) 2CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Incomplete combustion
C2H5OH(l) + O2(g) CO(g) + H2O(l)

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