Halogenoalkanes and alcohols

Learning objectives

Describe how halogenoalkanes are made from alkanes, alkenes and alcohols (HX, a potassium halide with concentrated H₂SO₄ or H₃PO₄, PCl₃ with heat, PCl₅ or SOCl₂) and classify them as primary, secondary or tertiary

Describe nucleophilic substitution with NaOH(aq) to give alcohols, KCN in ethanol to give nitriles and NH₃ in ethanol under pressure to give amines, and elimination of HX with hot ethanolic NaOH to give alkenes

Describe the SN1 and SN2 mechanisms, explain which one primary, secondary and tertiary halogenoalkanes follow, and explain their relative reactivity from C–X bond strength and the silver nitrate test

Describe how alcohols are made and their reactions with sodium, halogenating agents, carboxylic acids (esterification) and hot Al₂O₃ or concentrated acid (dehydration), and explain why alcohols are weaker acids than water

Describe the oxidation of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols by acidified K₂Cr₂O₇ or KMnO₄ (distillation versus reflux), and use it and the alkaline iodine test for CH₃CH(OH)– to classify and identify alcohols