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Alcohols and carboxylic acids
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Alcohols and carboxylic acids are found in drinks, vinegar and fuels. Their functional groups decide how they react. Separate Chemistry only.
Alcohols
Contain the -OH group. Methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol.
Used as fuels and solvents. Burn to give carbon dioxide and water.
Used as fuels and solvents. Burn to give carbon dioxide and water.
Making ethanol
Fermentation: sugar solution and yeast, 30 to 40 °C, without oxygen. Ethanol is then concentrated by fractional distillation.
Glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide
Glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide
Carboxylic acids
Contain the -COOH group. Methanoic, ethanoic, propanoic, butanoic acid.
Ethanoic acid is in vinegar. They are weak acids and react with carbonates to give carbon dioxide.
Oxidising an alcohol produces a carboxylic acid.
Ethanoic acid is in vinegar. They are weak acids and react with carbonates to give carbon dioxide.
Oxidising an alcohol produces a carboxylic acid.
Why is fermentation carried out at 30 to 40 °C?
- Yeast enzymes work best in this range.
- Too cold is slow; too hot denatures the enzymes.
Answer: It is the best temperature for yeast enzymes.
Alcohols have -OH; carboxylic acids have -COOH. Ethanol is made by fermentation with yeast at 30 to 40 °C. Oxidising alcohols makes carboxylic acids, which are weak acids.
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