This is part of the HSC Chemistry course under the topic of Reactions of Alcohols.
Reactions Involving Alcohols
This video runs through the types of reactions that can occur, and the conditions required for the reaction to take place. The reactions covered in this video are combustion, dehydration, oxidation, and substitution with a hydrohalogen.
Some of these types of reactions include:
- Combustion: Alcohols, like most organic compounds, can undergo combustion. This is a reaction in which the alcohol reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
- Dehydration: Alcohols can undergo a process called dehydration, in which they lose water molecules to form an alkene. This reaction is typically done by heating the alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as sulphuric acid.
- Substitution with HX: Alcohols can also react with hydrogen halides, such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) or hydrogen bromide (HBr), to form alkyl halides. This reaction is known as a substitution reaction and it is typically done in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as sulphuric acid.
- Oxidation: Alcohols can also undergo oxidation. This is a process in which the alcohol loses electrons to form a carbonyl compound, such as a carboxylic acid or aldehyde.
It’s important to notice that the specific products formed in these reactions depend on the type of alcohol and the reaction conditions. Also, different alcohols will react differently to the same type of reaction.
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