Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids and Esters - C3 AQA

1) Alcohols contain the functional group -OH. Methanol, ethanol and propanol are the first three members of a homologous series of alcohols

2) Methanol, ethanol and propanol:

*dissolve in water to form a neutral solution

*react with sodium to produce hydrogen

*burn in air

*are used as fuels and solvents, and ethanol is the main alcohol in alcoholic drinks.

3) Ethanol can be oxidised to ethanoic acid either by chemical oxidising agents or by microbial action. Ethanoic acid is the main acid in vinegar.

1) Ethanoic acid is a member of the carboxylic acids, which have the functional group -COOH.

2) Carboxylic acids:

*dissolve in water to produce acidic solutions

*react with carbonates to produce carbon dioxide

*react with alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce esters

HT *do not ionise completely when dissolved in water so are weak acids

HT *aqueous solutions of weak acids have a higher pH value than aqueous solutions of strong acids with the same concentration.

1) Ethyl ethanoate is the ester produced from ethanol and ethanoic acid. Esters have the functional group -COO-. They are volatile compounds with distinctive smells and are sued as flavourings and perfumes.