Title: Alcohols and Phenols

Expt. #: 1
Name: Regine C. Sulib
Section/schedule: MF 7:00 10:00AM
Name of instructor: Sir. Carl Labtog
Date: March 7, 2012








I. Introduction
Alcohols are compounds which contain a hydroxy group bonded to an sp3
hybridized carbon atom and are hydrocarbons derivatives in which one or more hydrogen atoms
have been replaced by the hydroxyl or H groups. Their general formula is R-OH. They are
classified in two ways: according to the number of hydroxyl group and to the position of the
carbon atom to which the OH group are called monohydric alcohols. Those containing two OH
group called dihydric alcohols and those containing three OH group is tryhydric alcohols.
Alcohols can be classified also as primary, secondary or tertiary. Primary alcohol is alcohols in
which the OH group is attached to a primary or end carbon. Secondary alcohol is alcohols in
which the OH is attached to a secondary carbon, a carbon which is attached to two carbon atom.
In tertiary alcohol, the OH group is attached to a tertiary carbon which is a carbon attached to
three other carbon atoms. Alcohols are acidic compounds because they can donate a proton to a
base. When an alcohol becomes deprotonated the resulting species is called an alkoxide.
Alcohols can also behave as bases and accept a proton to form an oxonium ion.
Phenols are compounds which contain a hydroxy group bonded to an sp2
hybridized carbon atom of a benzene ring. Phenols are acidic-never basic. Phenols can form H-
bonds. Phenols are more acidic than alcohols because of the tendency of alone pair electrons of
oxygen to interact with the pi electron of the benzene ring the decolization of results in a positive
charge on the oxygen atom and the ease by which a proton is easily removed from the oxygen-hydrogen
bond which can be observed in this experiment.
A. Objectives
B. General objective

The student should be able to enumerate properties of alcohols and phenols,
conduct some reactions of those substances write the balanced equations and differentiate
alcohols from phenols.
Specific objective:
At the end of the experiment the student should be able to;
1. Properties of alcohol and phenol such as acidity. Oxidation reaction with alkali
metals, Lucas reagent and ferric chloride.
2. Resulting from the reaction write the balanced equations
a. Alcohol and sodium metal
b. Phenol and ferric chloride
c. Resorcinol and ferric chloride
d. Salicylic acid and ferric chloride
e. Phenol and bromine water
f. Alcohols and Lucas reagent
II. Methodology
A. Chemicals and Reagents
The chemicals and reagents used in the experiment were; ethyl alcohol,
isopropyl alcohol, tertbutyl alcohol, an-butyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol. Water ,
sodium metal, pure phenol, potassium dichromate, 6N sulfuric acid, Lucas
reagent, bromine water, phenol solution, resorcinol, salicylic acid, ferric chloride
solution.
B. Apparatus / materials

The apparatus / materials used in the experiment are test tube, dropper, test
tube holder, test tube rock, beaker, alcohol lamp, ph paper, test tube brush, wire
gauze, iron ring, iron stand.
C. Procedure
A. Physical property of alcohol
Use the following: ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, tertbutyl alcohol, an-
butyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol.
1. Solubility in water
Label 5 test tube with the name of the alcohol above. Add a half dropper
full and 2 ml of water to each test tube. Shake its test and observe.
B. Chemical properties of alcohol
a. Reaction which involves displacement of OH
1, Reaction with metallic sodium
In a 3 separate dry test tube, place 1 ml of ethyl alcohol and tertiary butyl
alcohol. Add a tiny piece of freshly cut sodium metal to each. Arrange the test
tube in the order of decreasing activity of sodium.
2. Acidity of Alcohols and Phenols
In a pure ethyl alcohol moisten pH paper and another with phenol. Record
the Ph and compare the acidity of the 2 components.
3. Oxidation of Alcohols

Put I ml ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, tertbutyl alcohol in 3 separate
test tubes. 5 drops of potassium dichromate and 6N sulfuric acid. Observed the
color and odor of the solution.
b. Reaction which involves displacement of OH
1. Reaction with Lucas test
Transfer ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, tertbutyl alcohol in 3 separate
test tubes. Add 5 ml of Lucas reagent to each. Shake well and observed.
C. Properties of Phenols
a.Bromination of Phenols
Add bromine water dropwise to 1 ml of phenol solution. Write the
equation of the reaction and observed.
B.Ferric Chloride test
Place 1 ml phenol, resorcinol, salicylic acid and ethanol in 4 test tubes.
Add 1 drop of ferric chloride solution. Observed the odor.
III. Results
IV. Discussion of result
A. Physical property of alcohols
In the physical property of alcohols the solubility of the ethyl alcohols,
isopropyl alcohols and tertbutyl alcohols is homogenous and is turbid but the color in
tertbutyl alcohols is clear. The an-butyl is heterogenous, 3 layers and benzyl alcohol
is heterogeneous, 2 layers.

B. Chemical properties of alcohol
1. Reaction with metallic sodium
When the metallic sodium is added in the test tube with the 3 alcohols,
the arrangement of the test in the order of decreasing activity with sodium is ethyl
then isopropyl and lastly tertiary alcohol tube.
2. Acidity of alcohols and phenols
When the pH paper is moisten with pure ethyl alcohol and the other with
pure phenol the result when compared is, the phenol has a pH 5 which is more
acidic than alcohol which have 7.
3. Oxidation of alcohols
a.
The color of the isopropyl and ethyl alcohol when added with potassium
dichromate and sulfuric acid is orange complexion. While the tertiary alcohol is
green complexion. The odor of the isopropyl alcohol is rugby like while the ethyl
and tertiary is fragrant.
b. Reaction which involves displacement of OH
1. Reaction with Lucas test
The alcohol that has the fastest reaction with the Lucas reagent is tertiary
alcohol. Next is isopropyl alcohol and lastly ethyl alcohol.
C. Properties of phenols
a. Bromination of phenols

When bromine water is added in phenol alcohol no formation of a
solid white substance.
a. Ferric chloride test
When phenol is added with ferric chloride solution the color of the
solution is violet. While the resorcinol is bluish complexion (brownish black).
The ethanol when added with phenol gives yellow color.
V. Conclusion





VI. Reference
Instructional material Development Center. CMU Musuan Bukidnon. 2010.
http://chemistry.com/organic.chemistry.htm
http://chemistryw/biochem.com/organic.chemistry.htm
http:/alcoholsandphenolscom/organic.chemistry.htm





III. Results
A. Physical property of alcohols
Alcohol Solubility
ethyl alcohol, Homogeneous, turbid
isopropyl alcohol Homogeneous, slightly turbid
tertbutyl alcohol Homogeneous, clear
An-butyl alcohol Heterogenous,3 layers
benzyl alcohol Heterogenous,2 layers

B. Chemical properties of alcohol
a. Reaction which involves displacement of OH
1. Reaction with metallic sodium
Alcohol Reaction
ethyl alcohol, 1
st

isopropyl alcohol 2
nd

tertiary alcohol 3
rd


2. Acidity of alcohols and phenols
pH
Alcohol 7
phenols 5


3. Oxidation of alcohols
a.
Alcohols Color Odor
ethyl alcohol, Orange complexion fragrant
isopropyl alcohol Orange complexion Rugby like
tertiary alcohol Green complexion Fragrant

b. Reaction which involves displacement of OH
1. Reaction with Lucas test
Alcohols Reaction
ethyl alcohol, 3
RD

isopropyl alcohol 2
ND

tertiary alcohol 1
ST


C. Properties of phenols
1. Bromination of phenols
b. 2-4-6 of phenol
No formation of a solid white substance.

c. Ferric chloride test
Color

Phenol violet
Resorcinol Bluish complexion(brownish black)
Salicylic acid
Ethanol yellow