Properties of Alkanols

Topic Content:

Physical Properties of Alkanols:

1. The boiling point of alkanols is always much higher than that of alkanes with the same number of carbon atoms. The boiling points of the alcohols increase as the number of carbon atoms increases.

2. There is the presence of hydrogen bonding in alkanols. The hydrogen bond is set up between the slightly positive hydrogen atoms and lone pairs of oxygen in other molecules. 

3. The low molecular mass of alcohols (methanol to propanol) makes them completely soluble in water. However, solubilitySolubility is the maximum amount of a substance (called the solute) that can dissolve in a given amount of another substance (called the solvent) at a specific temperature and pressure, to... More decreases as the alcohol becomes bulky. Butanol is not completely soluble in water.

Chemical Properties of Alkanols:

Dehydration of Alkanols:

When alkanols are dehydrated, using conc. H₂ SO₄ , as a catalyst, the corresponding alkene is formed. For example, ethanol can be dehydrated to give ethene by heating it with an excess of concentrated sulphuric acid, at