A-Level CAIE Chemistry AS 16.1.2—Describe Question Bank

• Describe:

- (a) the reaction with oxygen (combustion)

- (b) substitution to form halogenoalkanes, e.g. by reaction with HX(g); or with KCl and concentrated

- H2SO4 or conc. H3PO4; or with PCl 3 and heat; or with PCl5; or with SOCl 2

- (c) the reaction with Na(s)

- (d) oxidation with acidified K2Cr2O7 or acidified KMnO4 to:

- (i) carbonyl compounds by distillation

- (ii) carboxylic acids by refluxing (primary alcohols give aldehydes which can be further oxidised to carboxylic acids, secondary alcohols give ketones, tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidised)

- (e) dehydration to an alkene, by using a heated catalyst, e.g. Al2O3 or a conc. acid

- (f) formation of esters by reaction with carboxylic acids and conc. H2SO4 as catalyst as exemplified by ethanol