Question
Write a note on acidity of alcohols.
✓
Answer
→ Acidity of alcohols: The acidic character of alcohols is due to the polar nature of O-H bond. An electron-releasing group (-CH3, C2H5) 2 increases electron density on oxygen tending to decrease the polarity of O-H bond. This decreases the acid strength. For this reason, the acid strength of alcohols decreases in the following order :
→ Alcohols are, however, weaker acids than water. This can be illustrated by the reaction of water with an alkoxide.
→ This reaction shows that water is a better proton donor (i.e., stronger acid) than alcohol. Also, in the above reaction, we note that an alkoxide ion is a better proton acceptor than hydroxide ion, which suggests that alkoxides are stronger bases (sodium ethoxide is a stronger base than sodium hydroxide).
→ Alcohols can act as both bronsted bases as well as acids. It is due to the presence of unshared electron pairs on oxygen. which makes them proton acceptors.
→ Alcohols are, however, weaker acids than water. This can be illustrated by the reaction of water with an alkoxide.
→ This reaction shows that water is a better proton donor (i.e., stronger acid) than alcohol. Also, in the above reaction, we note that an alkoxide ion is a better proton acceptor than hydroxide ion, which suggests that alkoxides are stronger bases (sodium ethoxide is a stronger base than sodium hydroxide).
→ Alcohols can act as both bronsted bases as well as acids. It is due to the presence of unshared electron pairs on oxygen. which makes them proton acceptors.
Need a full question paper?
Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.
Explore more
Similar questions
The reaction between A and B is first order with respect to A and zero order with respect to B. Fill in the blanks in the following table:
| Experiment | [A]/mol L-1 | [B]/mol L-1 | Initial rate/mol L-1 min-1 |
| I | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.0 × 10-2 |
| II | - | 0.2 | 4.0 × 10-2 |
| III | 0.4 | 0.4 | - |
| IV | - | 0.2 | 2.0 × 10-2 |
An octahedral complex is prepared by mixing CoCl3 and NH3 in the molar ratio 1 : 4, 0.1m solution of this complex was found to freeze at 0.372°C. What is the formula of the complex? Given that molal depression constant (Kf) for water = 1.86°C/m.
What is carbonyl group? Give information about the functional groups containing carbonyl group with their structures.
Primary alkyl halide C4H9Br(A) reacted with alcoholic KOH to give compound (B). Compound (B) is reacted with HBr to give (C) which is an isomer of (A). When (A) is reacted with sodium metal, it gives compound (D), C8H18which is different from the compound formed when n-butyl bromide is reacted with sodium. Give the structural formula of (A) and write the equations for all the reactions.
Why vitamin D, E and K compounds are essential for us? Describe their important sources.
Resistance of a conductivity cell filled with 0.1 mol L-1 KCl solution is $100\Omega.$ If the resistance of the same cell when filled with 0.02 mol L-1 KCl solution is $520\Omega,$ calculate the conductivity and molar conductivity of 0.02 mol L-1 KCl solution. The conductivity of 0.1 mol L-1 KCl solution is $1.29\times10^{-2}\Omega^{-1}\text{cm}^{-1}.$
→Write a note on Wurtz reaction and its Limitations.
Chromium metal can be plated out from an acidic solution containing CrO3 according to the following equation:
$\text{CrO}_3(\text{aq})+6\text{H}^+(\text{aq})+6\text{e}^-\xrightarrow{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\text{Cr(s)}+3\text{H}_2\text{O}$
Calculate:
→$\text{CrO}_3(\text{aq})+6\text{H}^+(\text{aq})+6\text{e}^-\xrightarrow{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\text{Cr(s)}+3\text{H}_2\text{O}$
Calculate:
- How many grams of chromium will be plated out by 24,000 coulombs.
- How long will it take to plate out 1.5g of chromium by using 12.5A current?
Write equations of the following reactions:
- Acetylation of aniline
- Coupling reaction
- Carbyl amine reaction
List various types of isomerism possible for coordination compounds, giving an example of each.