Reactions and characterisation of aliphatic alcohols

Carry out the following simple experiments these have been selected to illustrate some of the general properties of alcohols. 

The student will doubtless be aware of the fact that methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and iso propyl alcohols are completely miscible with water. The solubilities of the higher aloohols decrease progressively as the carbon content increases. The solubilities of all types of alcohols with five carbon atoms or more are quite small. For the isomeric butyl alcohols the solubilities (g. per 100 g. of water at 20°) are n-butyl, 8 iso-butyl, 23 scc.-butyl, 13 ierl.-butyl, completely miscible. 

Divide the saturated solution of n-butyl alcohol in water into three approximately equal parts. Treat these respectively with about 2-5 g. of sodium chloride, potassium carbonate and sodium hydroxide, and shake each until the soli have dissolved. Observe the effect of these compounds upon the solubility of n-butanol in water. These results illustrate the phenomenon of salting out of organic compounds, t.e., the decrease of solubility of organic compounds in water when the solution is saturated with an inorganic compound. The alcohol layer which separates is actually a saturated solution of water in n-butyl alcohol. 

Shake 2 ml. of paraffin oil or liquid paraffin with an equal volume of rectified spirit (95 per cent, ethyl alcohol). Explain the result. 

Shake 1 ml. of anhydrous methyl alcohol with 1 ml. of paraffin oil. Repeat the experiment with 1 ml. of n butyl alcohol. From your results state which is the better solvent for paraffin oil (a mixture of higher hydrocarbons) and thus explain why n-butanol and higher alcohols are incorporated in pyroxylin lacquers in preference to methyl and ethyl alcohols. 

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Dimethyl n-propyl carbinol Reactions and characterisation of aliphatic alcohols... 

In other reactions also the OH-group of the phenols shows itself to be more reactive than that of the aliphatic alcohols. Phenols, but not alcohols, react easily with diazomethane. With other alkylating agents also, such as alkyl halides, and dialkyl sulphates, the phenols react even in aqueous alkaline solution whilst the alcohols do not react under such conditions. Benzoyl derivatives, most of which crystallise readily, are excellently adapted for the characterisation of phenols (Schotten-Baumann reaction). 

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