Properties of alcohols
(a) (i) the polarity of alcohols and an explanation, in terms of hydrogen bonding, of the water solubility and the relatively low volatility
of alcohols compared with alkanes
(ii) classification of alcohols into primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols Reactions of alcohols
Reactions of alcohols
(b) combustion of alcohols
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(c) oxidation of alcohols by an oxidising agent, e.g. Cr2O7 2–/H+ (i.e. K2Cr2O7/H2SO4), including:
(i) the oxidation of primary alcohols to form aldehydes and carboxylic acids; the control of the oxidation product using different
reaction conditions
(ii) the oxidation of secondary alcohols to form ketones
(iii) the resistance to oxidation of tertiary alcohols
(d) elimination of H2O from alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst (e.g. H3PO4 or H2SO4) and heat to form alkenes
(e) substitution with halide ions in the presence of acid (e.g. NaBr/H2SO4) to form haloalkanes.