CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALCOHOLS

Chemical Properties of alcohols

Reactions of alcohols involving cleavage of O-H bond

•    Reaction with metals:

•    Reaction with carboxylic acid (Esterification):

•    Reaction with Grignard reagent:

Reactions involving cleavage of C – O bond

For the reaction involving cleavage of C – O bond, the reactivity order is

•    Formation of halides:

Oxidation of alcohols

Depending upon the structure of the alcohol and the type of oxidising agent used, oxidation of alcohol gives different products.

Dehydrogenation of alcohols

Dehydration of alcohols takes place in acidic medium. Intra-molecular dehydration leads to the formation of alkene while inter molecular dehydration forms ether.

Order of ease of dehydration is: 3° > 2° > 1°

Dehydration of alcohols

Dehydration of alcohols with conc. H₂SO₄ at different temperatures yields different products.

The ease of dehydration of three alcohols increases in the order

1⁰ ROH < 2⁰ ROH < 3⁰ ROH