1. To differentiate different types of alcohol.

Introduction:

In organic chemistry, alcohols from the functional group of hydroxyl groups are organic compounds which ar hydroxyl (OH) groups attached to a carbon atom of an alkyl group (hydrocarbon chain). Alcohols have the g represent the number of carbon atom in the compound) or R-OH (where R represent an alkyl group).

Alcohols is usually classified into three classes, the primary alcohols (1), secondary alcohols (2) and tertiary different classes depending on how the -OH group is positioned on the chain of carbon atoms. In a primary (1 the -OH group is only attached to one alkyl group. In a secondary (2) alcohol, the carbon with the -OH group alkyl groups. In a tertiary (3) alcohol, the carbon atom holding the -OH group is attached directly to three alk may be from the combination of same or different groups. R = alkyl group

The boiling points of the normal alcohols increase regularly with the increase of the molecular weights. The p temperature than the secondary alcohols that are isomeric with them. Similarly, the latter have higher boiling Among isomeric alcohols, the boiling point decreases with increase in branching in the alkyl group. Boiling p those of alkenes, halo alkenes or ethers of comparable molecular masses. This is because in alcohols intermol which a large amount of energy is required to break these bonds. Smaller molecules of alcohols are soluble in carbon reaches to four and beyond, its solubility in water reduced and will form two obvious layers.

The chemical properties of alcohols generally involve the reactions of -OH group. They can undergo substitu this experiment, few tests including Lucas test (substitution by halogens) and oxidation test is carried out to d classes of alcohols. For Lucas test, the reagents are a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and zinc chlo oxidation test is sodium dichromate. The end product formed can determine the types of alcohol each reactan consideration includes the colour of product formed and also the time taken for reaction. Besides, esterificatio properties of esters by reacting alcohol with a carboxylic acid. Ester generally will give out a fruity smell. Materials:

Ethanol, n-butanol, glacial acetic acid, alcohol X, Lucas reagent, 2-Methyl-2-propanol, concentrated H2SO4, Apparatus: Corks, dropper, test tubes, stopwatch, water bath, measuring cylinder (10mL). Procedure: A. Lucas test 1. 2mL of Lucas reagent was added to 1mL of 2-methyl-2-propanol. 2. The tube was stopped and shacked. 3. The observation and the time taken for the reaction to occur were recorded. 4. The steps above were repeated using 2-butanol, n-butanol and alcohol X. B. Oxidation test 1. One drop of concentrated H2SO4 was added to 5mL 0.04 M Na2Cr2O7 solution in a test tube in the fume

2. Two drops of n-butanol was added to the mixture and heated. 3. The steps above were repeated using 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol and alcohol X. 4. The colour change was recorded. C. Esterification test

1. 1mL of glacial acetic acid and 3 drops of concentrated H2SO4 was added to 2mL ethanol in the fume cupb 2. The mixture was shacked and warmed in a water bath.

3. 3mL of distilled water was added and the whiff of the vapour released was taken. The smell wad described Results: A. Lucas test Reactants Reagents Time taken Observations 2-methyl-2-propanol

Lucas reagent (concentrated hydrochloric acid, HCl and Zinc chloride, ZnCl) Immediately Solution turns clou 2-butanol 7 minutes Solution turns cloudy with 2 layers formed n-butanol >15 minutes No reaction observed after 15 minutes Alcohol X >15 minutes No reaction observed after 15 minutes B. Oxidation test Reactants Reagents Observations 2-methyl-2-propanol Sodium dichromate, Na2Cr2O7 No observation observed, yellow colour remains 2-butanol Solution turns from yellow to greenish colour after heating n-butanol Solution turns from yellow to pale greenish colour after heating Alcohol X Solution turns from yellow to pale greenish colour after heating C. Esterification test Reactants reagents Observations Ethanol

Concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) + glacial acetic acid A rubbery smell is detected from the product form Discussion:

A. Lucas test

The Lucas reagent is an aqueous solution which consists of strong acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl) and zinc chlo to determine the class of alcohols. The reactants used to react with Lucas reagent must be soluble in water for compound with more than six carbons is to large to be dissolved in the reagent and therefore will not react in soluble alcohols of low molecular weight will provide positive results in this test. Hence only four different lo which are the 2-methyl-2-propanol, 2-butanol, n-butanol and an unknown alcohol X.

The reaction that occurs in the Lucas test is a nucleophilic substitution. The reaction is a substitution in which group. Only alcohols that can generate stable carbocation intermediates will undergo the reaction. The acid ca (OH group) of the alcohol by protonating the oxygen atom. The C-OH bond breaks to generate the carbocatio chloride ion (nucleophile) to generate an alkyl halide product. Besides, the hydroxyl ions are protonized with reaction involves replacement of hydroxyl group (-OH) in the alcohol by the chloride ions from the Lucas rea haloalkane) and water. Alkyl halide is non-polar compound, while water is polar compound. Hence when the together, they do not mix with each other, forming a cloudy two layers solution, where the less dense colourle denser alkyl halide is at the bottom.

Lucas test can differentiate the classes of alcohol by comparing the product formed and the time taken for rea generally implies that the alcohol used is an primary alcohol. If the product formed turns cloudy and form two the alcohol used is a secondary alcohol. When tertiary alcohol is tested in the other hand, the solution will tur this reaction is proportional to the energy required to form the carbocation. The reaction rate is faster when th stabilized by greater number of electron donating alkyl group (R-) bonded to the positively charged carbon at reacts much more slowly. Thus, a tertiary alcohol reacts fastest followed by secondary alcohol while primary

From the experimental results obtained, we know that 2-methyl-2-propanol is a tertiary alcohol (3 alcohol) b when Lucas reagent is added to form 2 layered-solution which is cloudy. 2-butanol is a secondary alcohol (2 minutes to form a cloudy solution while n-butanol and alcohol X are primary alcohols (1 alcohol) as they did 15minutes. The equations for the reactions of different alcohols used are as below:2-methyl-2-propanol (3 alcohol): ZnCl2 (CH3)3COH + HCl (CH3)3CCl + H2O (2-methyl-2-propanol) (2-chloro-2-methylpropane) 2-butanol (2 alcohol): ZnCl2 CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3 + HCl CH3CHClCH2CH3 + H2O (2-butanol) (2-chlorobutane / 2-butyl chloride) n-butanol (1 alcohol): ZnCl2 CH3CH2CH2CH2OH + HCl CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl + H2O (n-butanol) (1-chlorobutane / n-butyl chloride)

Despite the fact that the experimental results obtained are accurate, 2-butanol took a longer time to react as co where it should react in within 5 minutes. This may due to slight contamination occurred in the reactants and B. Oxidation test

Oxidation test is also another way to determine the class of alcohols. There are a variety of oxidizing agent th permanganate, potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate and hydrogen peroxide. In this experiment, th is sodium dichromate (Na2Cr2O7). Before the sodium dichromate is directly used to oxidize any alcohols, th concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) to become acidified sodium dichromate. The acidic conditions keep the it is able to oxidize the alcohols. If oxidation occurs, the yellow solution containing the dichromate (VI) ions, solution containing chromium (III) ions, Cr3+. Hence the colour of product formed can be used to identify an added to increase the efficiency of the reaction. Cr2O72- + 14 H+ + 6 e- 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O (orange / yellow) (green)

Oxidation reaction involve the removal of the hydroxyl group(-OH group) and a hydrogen group from the alc forming a carbon-oxygen double bond. Theoretically, only primary and secondary alcohol will undergo oxida undergo any oxidation process. Primary alcohols will be oxidized to form a pale green solution while seconda greenish solution. The end product of oxidation of alcohols will produce different functional group depends o of primary alcohol usually will form carboxylic acid with an aldehyde group as the intermediate. Secondary a alcohol when oxidized.

From the experiment, it is observed that 2-methyl-2-propanol remains yellow in colour. This proves that 2-me This is because tertiary alcohols don't have a hydrogen atom attached to that carbon. Since hydrogen atom is reaction will occur. Hence, tert-butanol is stable towards oxidation reaction.

As for 2-butanol, a greenish solution is formed after heating. One hydrogen from the hydroxyl group (-OH) a from the carbon where hydroxyl functional group is attached and replaced by a carbon-hydrogen double bond hydrogen from OH group and the hydrogen atom is removed) is attached to two alkyl group, hence the prod butanone. Besides, the two removed hydrogen atom will react with oxygen to form a water molecule.

For n-butanol and alcohol X, a pale green solution is formed. If excess alcohol is used, an aldehyde group wil butanal and water. However, because excess oxidising agent is used, n-butanol is further oxidised by adding o carboxylic acid. Hence the end product is butanoic acid. As for alcohol X, it is determined as an primary alco oxidation test. The equations of the chemical reactions of n-butanol (1 alcohol) and 2-butanol (2 alcohol) ar n-butanol (1 alcohol): Na2Cr2O7 / H+ CH3CH2CH2CH2OH + [O] CH3CH2CH2CHO + H2O (n-butanol) (butanal) Na2Cr2O7 / H+ CH3CH2CH2CHO + [O] CH3CH2CH2COOH (butanal) (butanoic acid)

Overall: Na2Cr2O7 / H+ CH3CH2CH2CH2OH + 2[O] CH3CH2CH2COOH + H2O (n-butanol) (butanoic acid) 2-butanol (2 alcohol): Na2Cr2O7 / H+ CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3 + [O] CH3COCH2CH3 + H2O (2-butanol) (2-butanone) 2-methyl-2-propanol (3 alcohol): Na2Cr2O7 / H+ (CH3)3COH + [O] No reaction (2-methyl-2-propanol)

Overall, primary alcohols are oxidized to carboxylic acids or aldehydes, where in the experiment n-butanol w usage of the strong oxidising agent like Na2Cr2O7 in excess. On the other hand, secondary alcohols are oxidi oxidised to 2-butanone. Tertiary alcohols show no reaction due to their stable structure where the carbon atom stable alkyl groups. C. Esterification test

Esters are derived from carboxylic acids and alcohols. A carboxylic acid contains the -COOH group while alc are produced when carboxylic acids are heated with alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst. The catalyst just like in this experiment. The esterification reaction is both slow and reversible. Hydroxyl group from the a alcohol is removed to form water and ester. Due to the reaction of removal of water, esterification is also kno general equation is shown as below:

In this test, ethanol, CH3CH2OH react with ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, in the presence of a few drops of conc bath, to form an ester called ethyl ethanoate or ethyl acetate. The chemical composition of acids, alcohols and reaction. In general, ester produces pleasant scent. However in this experiment, a rubbery scent is detected. T slow and reversible; hence not much ester is produced. The smell might be slightly distorted or covered by th need to be added to the ester to produce a stronger pleasant, often fruit smell. Esters are widely used in the fra used in the organic chemistry for the test of alcohols and carboxylic acid. The equation of the chemical reaction that occurred is shown as follows: Concentrated HCl CH3CH2OH + CH3COOH CH3COOCH2CH3 + H2O (Ethanol) (Ethanoic acid) (Ethyl ethanoate) Precautionary steps:

1. Keep all the alcohols from any source of fire as alcohols are highly flammable.

2. All the unused or used waste materials must be poured into a specific waste container prepared in the fume environment. 3. Cautions must be taken when pouring concentrated sulphuric acid as it is toxic and is destructive to mucus 4. 2-methyl-2-propanol is harmful if inhaled. May cause skin and respiratory irritant. Severe eye irritant. 5. All transfer of chemicals should be done in the fume chamber to avoid inhalation of any chemicals vapour as cancer. Conclusions:

From the experiment, it can be concluded that n-butanol and the unknown alcohol X are primary alcohol, 2-b methyl-2-propanol is a tertiary alcohol. Primary alcohol will undergo oxidation but react slowest in halogen s alcohol in the other hand undergoes oxidation reaction but will react with a medium speed under halogen sub not undergo oxidation reaction but will react almost immediately in halogen substitution. Alcohols will react References: 1. From the internet:

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"Lucas test for alcohols", retrieved on 1 February 2011 from http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA5/MAIN/1ORGANIC/ORG11/TRAM11/C/0362502/MOV

"oxidation of alcohols", retrieved on 1 February 2011 from http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organi

"introducing alcohols", retrieved on 2 February 2011 from http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organic

"reactin of alcohols", retrieved on 2 February 2011 from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guid Alcohols.topicArticleId-23297,articleId-23272.html "chapter 15, alcohols, diols and triols", retrieved on 2 February 2011 from http://www.chem.ucalgary.ca/courses/351/Carey5th/Ch15/ch15-4.html