Ethanol

Definition

Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid that is the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is an important organic compound with diverse applications in various fields, including as a fuel, solvent, and chemical feedstock.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ethanol is a Lewis base, meaning it can act as an electron-pair donor in acid-base reactions.
2. The presence of ethanol in a compound can be determined by calculating the degree of unsaturation, as ethanol contributes one degree of unsaturation.
3. Ethanol can be formed through the hydration of alkenes, a reaction catalyzed by the addition of water and mercury(II) ions in a process called oxymercuration.
4. Ethanol is a common nucleophile in SN2 reactions, where it can displace a leaving group to form a new carbon-oxygen bond.
5. The hydroxyl group in ethanol can lead to spin-spin splitting patterns in the 1H NMR spectrum, as the hydrogen atoms on the adjacent carbon are coupled to the hydrogen atom on the hydroxyl group.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Lewis base property of ethanol is relevant in the context of acid-base chemistry.
  • As a Lewis base, ethanol can donate its lone pair of electrons to a Lewis acid, forming a coordinate covalent bond. This property is important in the Lewis definition of acids and bases, where ethanol can act as a base and accept a proton to form the ethoxide ion. The ability of ethanol to participate in acid-base reactions is a fundamental aspect of its chemical behavior.
• Describe how the presence of ethanol in a compound affects the calculation of the degree of unsaturation.
  • The degree of unsaturation is a measure of the number of carbon-carbon double bonds and rings in a molecule. Ethanol, being a saturated compound with a single carbon-oxygen bond, contributes one degree of unsaturation to the overall molecule. This information is crucial when analyzing the structure and reactivity of organic compounds containing the ethanol functional group, as it can provide insights into the compound's potential for further reactions or transformations.
• Analyze the role of ethanol in the hydration of alkenes through the oxymercuration reaction, and explain how this process is used to form alcohols.
  • The hydration of alkenes, catalyzed by the addition of water and mercury(II) ions, is a reaction known as oxymercuration. In this process, ethanol is formed as the product when the hydroxyl group from water is added across the carbon-carbon double bond of the alkene. This reaction is an important method for the synthesis of alcohols, as it allows for the controlled addition of a hydroxyl group to an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Understanding the mechanism and applications of the oxymercuration reaction is crucial in the context of organic chemistry.

Related terms

Alcohol:

A class of organic compounds containing a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group attached to a saturated carbon atom.

Fermentation: A metabolic process that converts carbohydrates, such as glucose, into ethanol and carbon dioxide in the absence of oxygen.

Alkene:

An unsaturated hydrocarbon compound containing a carbon-carbon double bond.