What general formula represents alcohols?
CnH2n+1OH
How are alcohols classified by hydroxyl group position?
Primary, secondary, or tertiary
Why are alcohols polar and water soluble?
Because oxygen can hydrogen-bond with water
What are the products of alcohol combustion in air?
Carbon dioxide and water.
What happens to the –OH group in alcohols during nucleophilic substitution with halogenating agents?
It is replaced by a halogen.
To what do primary alcohols oxidise first?
Aldehydes.
What do secondary alcohols oxidise to?
Ketones.
How easily are tertiary alcohols oxidised?
They are not easily oxidised.
What defines haloalkanes in terms of bonding?
They contain polar carbon–halogen bonds.
Why does haloalkane reactivity increase down the halogen group?
Because carbon–halogen bond enthalpy decreases with heavier halogens.
What does aqueous sodium hydroxide do to haloalkanes?
It converts them to alcohols by nucleophilic substitution.
What does ethanolic potassium hydroxide do to haloalkanes?
It converts them to alkenes by elimination.
What happens to the nucleophile in nucleophilic substitution?
It donates an electron pair to the electron-deficient carbon.
What precipitate forms with chloride in the silver nitrate test?
A white AgCl precipitate forms.
What precipitate forms with bromide in the silver nitrate test?
A cream AgBr precipitate forms.
What precipitate forms with iodide in the silver nitrate test?
A yellow AgI precipitate forms.
What initiates the breakdown of CFCs in the atmosphere?
UV photolysis initiates CFC breakdown.
How do chlorine radicals affect ozone in the atmosphere?
They catalyse ozone breakdown by regenerating the chlorine radical.
What does reflux do during an organic reaction?
It continually heats the reaction while returning vapours to the flask.
How does reflux prevent product loss?
By using a condenser to return vapours to the flask.
Why is reflux used to oxidize compounds to carboxylic acids?
It allows oxidation to proceed without losing reactants or products.
Why does distillation separate liquids effectively?
Because liquids with lower boiling points evaporate first and condense.
What does a multi-stage synthesis convert a starting reactant into?
The desired product through one or more intermediates.
What does bromine water test for?
Unsaturation.
Which reagent tests for aldehydes?
Tollens’ reagent.
What does infrared spectroscopy identify by measuring infrared absorption?
Functional groups.
What is the wavenumber range for alcohol O–H absorption in IR spectroscopy?
3230–3550 cm⁻¹.
Where does carboxylic-acid O–H absorption occur in IR spectra?
2500–3300 cm⁻¹ overlapping the C–H region.
At what wavenumber does C=C absorb sharply in IR spectroscopy?
1620–1680 cm⁻¹.
What is the sharp absorption range for C=O in infrared spectroscopy?
1680–1750 cm⁻¹.
What does mass spectrometry identify and determine?
Molecules and their relative molecular mass.
What are the main steps in time-of-flight mass spectrometry?
Ionisation, acceleration, ion drift, detection, and analysis.
Which peak is the molecular ion peak in a mass spectrum?
The peak furthest to the right.
What can the m/z value of the molecular ion peak calculate?
The relative molecular mass.
Why are alcohols less volatile than alkanes?
Because alcohols have hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces
What intermolecular forces do alkanes have?
Only van der Waals forces
Why does phosphorus pentachloride test for alcohols?
It produces white steamy fumes that turn damp blue litmus paper red.
Why does acidified potassium dichromate(VI) change from orange to green?
Because chromium is reduced while the alcohol is oxidised.
How are haloalkanes classified by halogen position?
As primary, secondary, or tertiary.
Which ions are common nucleophiles?
CN⁻, NH3, and OH⁻ are common nucleophiles.
What is the overall reaction formula for catalytic ozone breakdown?
What is the principle behind separating liquids in a separating funnel?
Immiscible liquids form layers that can be separated by density.
Which layer is collected first in a separating funnel?
The denser bottom layer is collected before the less dense layer.
What is the role of anhydrous magnesium sulfate in organic preparation?
It absorbs water to dry and purify organic compounds.
Which reactions do more sustainable synthetic routes favour?
Addition reactions.
What type of reagents do sustainable synthetic routes prefer?
Renewable and safer reagents.
What kind of by-products do sustainable synthetic routes aim to produce?
Less harmful or useful by-products.
Why does boiling-point determination assess purity?
Because a pure substance boils close to its databook value.
What is the fingerprint region in IR spectroscopy?
500–1500 cm⁻¹ region with unique small differences for each molecule.
Why does a small M+1 peak appear in organic compounds?
Because of carbon-13 isotopes present in small amounts.
What does fragmentation produce in mass spectrometry?
A charged fragment ion and an uncharged radical.
Which fragment from fragmentation appears as a peak in the mass spectrum?
Only the charged fragment ion.
Answer 22 questions on Alcohols Haloalkanes and Analysis.
1. Which structural feature defines an alcohol in organic chemistry?
2. How is an alcohol classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary?
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