Identification of Alcohols

The term 'alcohol' refers to organic compounds with one, two, or more hydroxyl groups (-OH), which are attached to the carbon atom (alkyl group or hydrocarbon chain).

A derivative of water is defined as alcohol in which one hydrogen atom is replaced by an alkyl group. Inorganic compounds, R represents the alkyl group. Alcohol can also be formed in different ways.

Among most organic compounds that occur commonly, alcohols account for a significant portion. Sweeteners and perfumes can be made using these materials, but they can also serve as catalysts for the creation of related compounds, and others can be found in various organic chemicals.

Types of Alcohol

There is a difference between alcohols depending on whether they contain hydroxyl groups. Alcohols also differ in their physical and chemical properties based on the location of the hydroxyl group.

Alcohol is divided into three types. There are three types of alcohol: primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols.

An alkyl group is classified according to where its carbon atom is attached to the hydroxyl group. There are a number of alcohols that are described as colourless liquids or even solids at room temperature. Molecular weight means how soluble an alcohol is in water; the higher the molecular weight, the less soluble the alcohol and the greater the density, boiling point, vapor pressure, and viscosity.

Brief Overview of the Different types of Alcohol

Primary Alcohols

Primary alcohols are those alcohols in which only one alkyl group has a carbon atom attached to the hydroxyl group (OH). Methanol (propanol), ethanol, and others are examples of these primary alcohols. There is no relation between the complexity of an alkyl chain and whether it is considered primary or secondary. There is only one linkage between a –OH group and an alkyl group for any alcohol to qualify as a primary.

Secondary Alcohols

Typically, secondary alcohols have a carbon atom attached to the hydroxyl group and has two adjacent alkyl groups. There may be two structurally identical alkyl groups or even two different ones. Some examples of secondary alcohols are given below.

Tertiary Alcohols

An alcohol that contains a hydroxyl group attached to the carbon atom and connected to three alkyl groups is said to be a tertiary alcohol. These alcohols differ in their physical properties mainly because of their structure. It allows the alcohols to bind to their neighbouring atoms via hydrogen bonds through the -OH group. Alcohols' boiling points are higher than their alkanes because of weak bonds formed between the molecules. Some examples of tertiary alcohols are-

Methods of Identifying Alcohol

1. Ferric Chloride Test

To determine whether an alcohol is aromatic or aliphatic, you can use iron (III) chloride. A reddish-orange color is created by the iron chloride compound. An aromatic alcohol, such as phenol, changes the coordination property of the central iron atom by replacing the chloride atoms with aromatic alcohol. The color changes from green to purple. In this case, the iron (III) chloride will not react with the amino alcohols, which is why the solution remains orange-red.

2. Schiff's Reagent 

Schiff's reagent, which is a fuchsia dye that is discolored when sulfur dioxide is passed through it, can be used to distinguish between primary and secondary alcohols. It becomes bright magenta in the presence of aldehyde, even in very small amounts. Because ketones react slowly with it to impart the same color, it must be used absolutely cold. A faster color change occurs with heat, but the competition between the ketone reactions makes it confusing. The vapors produced by Schiff's reagent can be passed through this reaction mixture when heated in a bath of hot water.

• Aldehyde is formed when Schiff's reagent turns magenta quickly.

• A simple trace of pink color or no color change in the Schiff's reagent in a minute or so indicates that no aldehyde was formed, and no primary alcohol is present.

• A color change in an acidified potassium dichromate (VI) solution can be used to identify secondary alcohols.

3. Jones Test

As a powerful oxidizing agent, chromium trioxide is used in the Jones test to detect alcohol in the presence of sulfuric acid. A primary alcohol is converted into an aldehyde in the presence of Jones' reagent. In turn, the carboxylic acid will be transformed into a ketone, while the secondary alcohol will be converted into a carboxylic acid. This test is based on the chromium oxidation state. The Jones' reagent shows chrome to be in the oxidation state of +6. This reagent is bright reddish and orange due to the presence of Cr(VI) complexes.

The reaction process reduces chromium from Cr (VI) to Cr(III) at a reduced oxidation state of +3. To form the chromate ester, the chromic acid and the alcohol acid are combined. Following that, H2O forms the carbonyl group while the Cr(VI) is reduced to Cr(IV) thereby cleaving the C-H alcohol bond. Two electrons are removed from the Cr(IV) by reduction, and two electrons are removed from the carbon of the alcohol by oxidation. Hence, this is known as a reduction-oxidation step.

Also, Cr(IV) participates in the further oxidation steps, and it is eventually reduced to Cr(III). Often, Cr(III) is present as a Hexa aqua chromium (III) ions — [Cr(H2O)6]3+ - and Cr(III) complexes, whereas the H2O molecules are replaced either by one or more sulphate ions — [Cr(H2O)5(SO4)]+. All these complexes provide Cr(III), which is the characteristic green color.

The colour of the solution is not maintained by chromium reactivity with tertiary alcohols. Consequently, the Jones test helps differentiate between primary alcohols and secondary alcohols.

Uses of Alcohols

Alcohols can be used in many different ways. The following are a few examples.

• Drinking alcohol is the consumption of alcohols containing 30–40 percent by volume of ethanol.

• Antifreeze solutions are made by mixing ethylene glycol with water and using this solution as an antifreeze agent.

• The antiseptic agent ethanol is derived from alcohol.

• The internal combustion engines use some alcohols for fuel, like methanol.

• The good news is that some of them can be used as preservatives in laboratories to preserve specimens.

To summarize, this article focuses on the history of alcohol, types of alcohol, identification and uses of alcohol. For more information on this or any other chemistry topic, please visit Vedantu.