Reactions of Alcohols

Alcohols are organic compounds characterized by the presence of one or more hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups. They can engage in a variety of reactions, facilitated by the electronegativity of the oxygen atom and the versatility of the hydroxyl group.
Oxidation of Alcohols: Primary alcohols are oxidized to form aldehydes and further to carboxylic acids. Secondary alcohols are oxidized to become ketones. Tertiary alcohols do not easily undergo oxidation.
Dehydration of Alcohols: When heated with a strong acid like sulfuric or phosphoric acid, alcohols undergo elimination reactions to form alkenes. This is an example of an E1 reaction where water, a better leaving group than hydroxide, is eliminated.
Substitution Reactions: Alcohols can engage in nucleophilic substitution reactions. Under acidic conditions, the -OH group can be replaced with a halogen to form a haloalkane.
Esterification: Alcohols react with carboxylic acids to produce esters and water in an equilibrium reaction. An acid catalyst, often sulphuric acid, is usually required to speed up the process.
Reactions with Sodium: Alcohols will react with sodium to produce sodium alkoxides and hydrogen gas; this is one of the many ways to show their acidic nature.
Reduction of Aldehydes and Ketones: This reaction is the reverse of the oxidation of alcohols. By using suitable reducing agents, such as lithium aluminium hydride or sodium borohydride, aldehydes and ketones can be reduced back to primary and secondary alcohols respectively.
Phenols: Phenols are a type of alcohol which have an -OH group bonded directly to a benzene ring. They are more acidic than other alcohols and readily lose H⁺ ions.

Remember, understanding the underlying mechanisms of these reactions can provide a solid foundation for effective problem-solving in organic chemistry. Practice drawing out the mechanisms and studying the role each atom, electron, and functional group plays.