3.9.1
Production of Alcohols
Types of Alcohols
Types of Alcohols
Alcohols can be either primary, secondary, or tertiary.


Primary alcohols
Primary alcohols
- A primary alcohol is one which has one carbon bonded to the carbon bonded to the functional group.
- E.g. ethanol.


Secondary alcohols
Secondary alcohols
- A secondary alcohol is one which has two carbons bonded to the carbon bonded to the functional group.
- E.g. propan-2-ol.
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Tertiary alcohols
Tertiary alcohols
- A tertiary alcohol is one which has three carbons bonded to the carbon bonded to the functional group.
- E.g. 2-methyl-propan-2-ol.
Alcohol Production
Alcohol Production
There are a variety of methods for synthesising alcohols. Different methods are used for industrial purposes and for drinking purposes.


Industrial alcohol production
Industrial alcohol production
- Alcohols are produced industrially by hydration (adding water) of alkenes in the presence of an acid catalyst.
- The most common catalyst is phosphoric (V) acid. It’s done at 300oC and 60 atm pressure.
- The mechanism is via an electrophilic addition.


Hydration of ethene
Hydration of ethene
- The mechanism above shows how:
- The acid catalyst acts first to add to the alkene.
- The lone pair on the oxygen then attacks the carbocation intermediate.
- Finally, a proton is lost to give an alcohol and to reform the acid catalyst.




Fermentation
Fermentation
- For some purposes, ethanol is produced by fermentation. This makes alcohol that is drinkable, but it can also be used for making biofuels.
- Fermentation uses yeast to turn glucose into ethanol.
- The reaction for it is:
- Ethanol is separated by distillation.
- The process is cheap, but distillation adds extra cost.
Biofuels
Biofuels
Biofuels are fuels composed of grown organic matter.


Biofuel
Biofuel
- Ethanol is produced by fermentation and then separated by fractional distillation.
- This can then be used as a biofuel.
- Biofuels are greener than petrol.
- This is because they are renewable - we can grow more plants so they won't run out.
- They are more sustainable.
- They are carbon neutral (kind of). They release CO2 when they burn, but they absorb it when they grow.
- These cancel each other out.
- This is because they are renewable - we can grow more plants so they won't run out.


Problems
Problems
- Switching to biofuels is problematic:
- Car engines aren’t built to run on ethanol.
- Land that's growing biofuel isn't producing food.
- This could lead to food shortages.


Carbon neutrality
Carbon neutrality
- Earlier, we said that biofuels are kind of carbon neutral.
- It’s true that what they release in CO2, they absorb when they grow.
- But this is not the full story:
- You need fossil fuels to make crop fertilisers, to harvest crops, and to transport the biofuel.
- All these processes make CO2, so it's not completely carbon neutral.
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
Jump to other topics
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
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