Non-Carbonyls
Alcohols
Combustion
When alcohols combust, they go through complete combustion which forms carbon dioxide and
water. If not enough oxygen is provided they can also go though incomplete combustion which will
make either carbon monoxide or carbon particulates. Alcohols are used as fuels due to their ability
to burn during combustion. The equation for complete combustion of ethanol is C2H5OH + 3O2 →
2CO2 + 2H2O the longer the chain the less flammable they are, and the more oxygen is needed for
complete combustion.
Oxidation
Alcohols also can go through oxidation whilst not undergoing combustion. This reaction produces
Carboxylic Acids or Aldehydes.
Primary alcohols can oxidise into either Carboxylic Acids or Aldehydes depending on how much of
the oxidising agent is present. If the Alcohol is in excess it will form an Aldehyde due to partial
oxidation of the alcohol this is because there is not enough oxidising agent to continue oxidising. A
Carboxylic Acid will only form if the oxidising agent is in excess and not the Alcohol which means
there will be enough oxidising agent to carry out the second stage of oxidisation making it complete
oxidation.
Ethanol (C₂H₆O) + [O] → Ethanal (C2H4O) + [O] → Ethanoic Acid (CH₃COOH)
This is the oxidation of Ethanol.
Oxidation will also make the by-product water due to two hydrogens from the alcohol and the
oxygen from the oxidising agent bonding together.
Haloalkanes
The type of reaction that haloalkanes depend on the type they are. Primary haloalkanes mainly go
through substitution, secondary go through both substitution and elimination and tertiary mainly go
through elimination. It also depends on the condition used for the reaction.
Substitution
In a substitution reaction an OH group replaces a halogen atom which makes an alcohol
When the OH group comes into contact with the Haloalkane (Bromoethane) it donates a pair of its
electrons to form a bond with the hydrogen to form water (a by-product), this makes the OH group a
nucleophile and the Hydrogen an electrophile. The electron from the bond that was broken by the
nucleophile transfers the electrons from the bond to the carbon to carbon bond making a double
bond. As carbons can only have four bonds the electrons from the bond to the bromine transfers its
Alcohols
Combustion
When alcohols combust, they go through complete combustion which forms carbon dioxide and
water. If not enough oxygen is provided they can also go though incomplete combustion which will
make either carbon monoxide or carbon particulates. Alcohols are used as fuels due to their ability
to burn during combustion. The equation for complete combustion of ethanol is C2H5OH + 3O2 →
2CO2 + 2H2O the longer the chain the less flammable they are, and the more oxygen is needed for
complete combustion.
Oxidation
Alcohols also can go through oxidation whilst not undergoing combustion. This reaction produces
Carboxylic Acids or Aldehydes.
Primary alcohols can oxidise into either Carboxylic Acids or Aldehydes depending on how much of
the oxidising agent is present. If the Alcohol is in excess it will form an Aldehyde due to partial
oxidation of the alcohol this is because there is not enough oxidising agent to continue oxidising. A
Carboxylic Acid will only form if the oxidising agent is in excess and not the Alcohol which means
there will be enough oxidising agent to carry out the second stage of oxidisation making it complete
oxidation.
Ethanol (C₂H₆O) + [O] → Ethanal (C2H4O) + [O] → Ethanoic Acid (CH₃COOH)
This is the oxidation of Ethanol.
Oxidation will also make the by-product water due to two hydrogens from the alcohol and the
oxygen from the oxidising agent bonding together.
Haloalkanes
The type of reaction that haloalkanes depend on the type they are. Primary haloalkanes mainly go
through substitution, secondary go through both substitution and elimination and tertiary mainly go
through elimination. It also depends on the condition used for the reaction.
Substitution
In a substitution reaction an OH group replaces a halogen atom which makes an alcohol
When the OH group comes into contact with the Haloalkane (Bromoethane) it donates a pair of its
electrons to form a bond with the hydrogen to form water (a by-product), this makes the OH group a
nucleophile and the Hydrogen an electrophile. The electron from the bond that was broken by the
nucleophile transfers the electrons from the bond to the carbon to carbon bond making a double
bond. As carbons can only have four bonds the electrons from the bond to the bromine transfers its
