Organic Compounds containing oxygen

Organic Compounds Containing Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen: Alcohols and Ethers

* Learning objectives:
1. To give an overview of some relevant compounds of C, H and O and particularly the alcohols.
2.To prepare the ground for understanding the chemistry of later compounds containing alcohol and ether groups.

* Diagnostic test
Try this short test. If you score more than 80 % you can use the chapter as a revision of your knowledge. If you score less than 80 % you probably need to work through the text and test yourself again using the same test. If you still score less than 80 % then come back to the chapter after a few days and read again.

1. What is the chemical name of the alcohol used in alcoholic drinks? (1)
2. The alcohols are members of the monohydric alcohol series with the general formula CnH2n‏+1OH. Give the formula and names for the alcohols when n=1 and 3 (4)
3. In what structural way does methanol resemble water? (1)
4. C6H5OH has an OH group joined to a six-membered ring. What is the compound called? (1)
5. Glycerine is a trihydric alcohol, CH2OH.CHOH.CH2OH. What is the chemical name? (1)
6. C2H6O is the general formula for an alcohol and also dimethyl ether. Give the formula for each isomer. (2)
Total 10 (80 %= 8) Answers at the end of the chapter.