Alcohol Chemistry
Uses:
Alcoholic drinks (ethanol)
Solvents
Fuels
Introduction

Are a family of organic compounds
containing the –OH (hydroxyl) functional
group
Draw the FSF and write molecular formulae for:
1. Methanol
2. 2-methylpropan-1-ol
3. 2-methylbutan-2-ol
Naming practice
H
H C H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
H
H
O
H C HH
H
H
H
H
H C H
H
3 - ethyl, 4 - methylheptan - 4 - ol
A homologous series

A family of compounds with the same
general formula, similar chemical properties
and a graduation in physical properties
ALCOHOL:
Any compound
containing the
-OH group
ALKanols:
Subset
based on
alkanes
Alcohol



H
The chemical name for alcohol is
ETHANOL:
Ethanol is NOT a carbohydrate.
Alcoholic drinks are made by
fermenting sugar (glucose):
H
C
H
H
C
OH
H
Drink
Carbohydrate
% alcohol
Beer
Barley
3-6
Cider
Apples
7 – 10
Wine
Grapes
10 – 14
Whisky
Barley
35 – 45
Vodka
Potatoes
35 - 45
Fermentation


Alcohol is made from sugar
The process is called FERMENTATION:
Glucose


Alcohol + Carbon dioxide
An ENZYME is needed to make this reaction
happen - Zymase
YEAST (a living organism) contains the
enzyme which is needed
Making Ethanol
(C6H10O5)n
starch
C6H12O6
glucose
Enzymes
released during
germination
Enzyme
zymase in
yeast
C2H5OH + CO2
ethanol
Enzyme
maltase in
yeast
C12H22O11
maltose
FERMENTATION
Practical

Burning £5 note
Practical demo

Alcohol Rocket
Collect a copy of “That’s the Limit” booklet
That’s the Limit 1






How much beer contains the equivalent alcohol to one
glass of wine?
How much beer contains the equivalent alcohol to a
single whiskey?
Pint for pint, which contains more alcohol, beer or cider?
What are the recommended weekly units of drink for
men and women?
Which organ is chiefly responsible for removing alcohol
from the body?
List 3 factors which affect how you are affected by
alcohol.
That’s the Limit 2





How long would it take your body to remove the
alcohol consumed by 4 pints of beer?
What is the legal driving limit in terms of units of
alcohol?
If you started drinking at 8pm, and consumed on
average 2 pints every hour until 12pm, how long
would it take you to be below the legal limit for
driving?
Explain what causes a hang-over.
State 3 long-term effects of excessive alcohol
consumption.
Alcoholic Drinks
Drink
Carbohydrate
% alcohol
Beer
Barley
3-6
Cider
Apples
7 – 10
Wine
Grapes
10 – 14
Whisky
Barley
35 – 45
Vodka
Potatoes
35 - 45
•At alcohol concentrations above 15 %, the yeast
are poisoned and the enzymes do not work.
•Fermentation therefore stops.
Distillation

To produce drinks with
a high alcohol
concentration,
DISTILLATION must be
carried out.
cold water out
mixture from
fermentation
cold water in
'anti-bumping'
glass beads
distilled
ethanol
Alternative method?


Fermentation is too expensive to produce
ethanol on an industrial scale
Catalytic hydration of ethene is method
used
Ethene + water
C2H4 + H2O
H3PO4 catalyst
300oC & 70 atmospheres
Ethanol
C2H5OH
H
H
H
H
C
H
C
H
H
C
OH
+
H
C
H
OH
H
The reverse process
mineral wool
soaked in ethanol aluminium oxide catalyst
rolled in mineral wool
ethene
This is called DEHYDRATION
Chemistry of dehydration
+
Ethanol
water
Ethene
H
H
H
O
H C
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
C
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
NAME?
+
H
H
H
H C
C
C
C
H
H
H
H
H
NAME?
H
H
O
Practice


Draw the FSF for the product(s) of hydration of the
following alkenes:
3-methylpent-1-ene
2-methylbut-1-ene
2-methylbut-2-ene
Which of the following compounds will produce
isomers on dehydration?
Hexan-3-ol
Heptan-3-ol
2-methylbutan-1-ol