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Ch.21 - Organic Chemistry
Chapter 21, Problem 73b

List the products of each alcohol reaction.
b.

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insert step 1> Identify the type of alcohol involved in the reaction (primary, secondary, or tertiary).
insert step 2> Determine the type of reaction the alcohol is undergoing (e.g., oxidation, dehydration, substitution).
insert step 3> For oxidation reactions, primary alcohols typically oxidize to aldehydes and then to carboxylic acids, secondary alcohols to ketones, and tertiary alcohols generally do not oxidize.
insert step 4> For dehydration reactions, alcohols typically lose a water molecule to form an alkene.
insert step 5> For substitution reactions, alcohols can react with halogen acids to form alkyl halides.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Alcohol Functional Group

Alcohols are organic compounds characterized by the presence of one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to a carbon atom. This functional group is responsible for the unique chemical properties of alcohols, including their ability to participate in various reactions such as oxidation, dehydration, and substitution.
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Types of Reactions Involving Alcohols

Alcohols can undergo several types of chemical reactions, including oxidation (where they are converted to aldehydes, ketones, or carboxylic acids), dehydration (leading to the formation of alkenes), and substitution reactions (where the hydroxyl group is replaced by another functional group). Understanding these reactions is crucial for predicting the products formed.
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Reaction Mechanisms

The mechanisms of alcohol reactions involve specific steps that describe how reactants are transformed into products. For example, in dehydration, the alcohol loses a water molecule, often facilitated by an acid catalyst, leading to the formation of an alkene. Familiarity with these mechanisms helps in understanding the conditions required for each reaction and the expected products.
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