• Alcohols have a?low degree of dissociation
  • This means, that when dissolved in water, alcohol molecules do not?dissociate?(split up) to a great extent

ROH (aq) ? RO^- (aq) + H⁺ (aq)
Alcohol?????? ????????????? alkoxide ion

• The?position?of the equilibrium lies to the left, meaning that there are far more alcohol molecules than RO-?and H+?ions
• When water dissociates, the position of the equilibrium still lies to the?left, but there are more H+?ions compared to the dissociation of alcohols

H₂O (l) ? OH^- (aq) + H⁺ (aq)

• As alcohols have a lower [H⁺ (aq)] in solution compared to water,?alcohols are weaker acids than water

The inductive effect in alcohols

• Electron-donating species such as?alkyl groups?push electrons into a covalent bond and are said to have a?positive inductive effect
• In alcohols, the?oxygen?atom in the?alkoxide ion?is bonded to an?electron-donating?alkyl group
• This means that there is more electron density on the O^- atom
• The alkoxide ion is, therefore, more likely to?accept?an H⁺ ion and form the alcohol again

Alkyl groups in the alkoxide ion donate electron density to the negatively charged oxygen, causing it to more readily accept a proton and form the alcohol again

• When water dissociates, the?hydroxide ion?only has one other?hydrogen atom
• There is no extra?electron density?on the oxygen which is less likely to?accept?an H+?ion
• Water is therefore a?stronger?acid than alcohols

Water is a stronger acid than alcohols as there are no electron-donating groups in the hydroxide ion, causing the O- to be less likely to accept a proton and reform water