Revision on alcohols, carboxylic acids and ester

Change of one homologous series to another homologous

series

Alcohol

Carboxylic acid

Ester

State the general formula for

Many reactions of ethanol

Reaction 1

• Combustion• ethanol is burnt in excess oxygen

Observation: ethanol burns with blue flame, no soot

Reaction 2

• Dehydration • ethanol is passed over heated

porcelain chips to produce ethene

Observation: gas formed that will decolorize brown bromine water

Reaction 3

• hydration or addition of steam• When a mixture of ethene and steam is

heated over phosphoric acid as catalyst, temp of 300oC, pressure 60 atm.

Reaction 4

• Esterification • When a mixture of ethanol and

ethanoic acid is warmed with conc sulphuric acid as catalyst, Observation: sweet smelling liquid is formed

Reaction 5

• Esterification • When a mixture of ethanoic acid and

ethanol is warmed with conc sulphuric acid as catalyst

Observation: Sweet smelling liquid is formed

Reaction 6

• Oxidation • When ethanol is warmed with acidified

potassium dichromate as oxidizing agent

Observation: Orange solution change to green

Naming of esters