• Alcohols?are compounds that contain at least one?hydroxy?(-OH) group
• The general formula of alcohols is?CnH2n+1OH
• Alcohols can be prepared by a wide range of chemical reactions

Electrophilic addition to alkenes

• When hot steam is reacted with an alkene, using concentrated phosphoric(VI) acid (H3PO4)?or sulfuric acid as a catalyst,?electrophilic addition?takes place to form an?alcohol

Electrophilic addition of steam to alkenes to form an alcohol

Oxidation of alkenes

• Cold, dilute KMnO4?is a?mild oxidising agent?and oxidises?alkenes
• The C=C double bond is broken open and a diol is formed
  • A diol is a compound with two hydroxy, -OH, groups

   

Oxidation of alkenes using cold, dilute KMnO4?to form a diol

Nucleophilic substitution of halogenoalkanes

• The halide atom in halogenoalkanes can be substituted when heated with aqueous NaOH in a?nucleophilic substitution?reaction

Nucleophilic substitution of halogenoalkanes using NaOH to form an alcohol

Reduction of aldehyde & ketones

• Aldehydes?and?ketones?can be reduced by reducing agents such as NaBH4?or LiAlH4
• Aldehydes are reduced to?primary alcohols
  • The carbon attached to the hydroxy group is bonded to one other alkyl group

   

• Ketones are reduced to?secondary alcohols
  • The carbon attached to the hydroxy group is bonded to two other alkyl groups

   

Reduction of aldehydes and ketones to form primary and secondary alcohols

Reduction of carboxylic acids

• Similarly, carboxylic acids are reduced by NaBH4?or LiAlH4?to primary alcohols
• Carboxylic acids can also be reduced by H2?using a nickel catalyst and heat

Reduction of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols

Hydrolysis of ester

• Esters are made by a?condensation reaction?between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid
• When an ester is heated with dilute acid or alkali,?hydrolysis?will take place and the carboxylic acid and alcohol will be reformed

Hydrolysis of esters to form alcohols

Alcohol Production Reactions Table