REACTIONS OF ALCOHOLS INVOLVING O-H BOND BREAKAGE

Pure alcohols can undergo self-ionization in the same way as water but the ionization of pure alcohols is less than that of water. During the ionization, an alcohol molecule is converted into an alkoxide (RO-) ion by when it loses a proton, the molecule accepting the proton is converted into an oxonium ion. 

The ionization percentage of alcohols decreases as the number of carbon atoms increases. In reactions with alcohols involving O—H bond breakage, protons (H+) are donated. 

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