answersLogoWhite

0

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that only contain carbon and hydrogen.

Alcohols are not hydrocarbons, as they also contain oxygen atoms.

To convert a long-chain hydrocarbon into an alcohol, 1st cracking must be carried out, breaking the long-chain into smaller molecules and alkenes (hydrocarbons with carbon-carbon double bonds) and 2ndly the alkenes must be hydrated (at high temperature and pressure in presence of a catalyst).

Example:

1. Cracking (540°C, catalyst)

decane (a hydrocarbon) C10H22 → pentane C5H12 + propene CH2=CH-CH3 + ethene CH2=CH2

2. Hydration (570°C, 60-70 atm, a catalyst such as phosphoric acid)

ethene CH2=CH2 + H2O → ethanol (an alcohol) CH3CH2OH

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Why are alcohols soluble in polar solvents while hydrocarbons are not?

Alcohols contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group which can form hydrogen bonds with polar solvents, making them soluble. In contrast, hydrocarbons lack these polar functional groups and interactions, leading to poor solubility in polar solvents.


Is 2 butanol alkane alkene or alcohol?

2-butanol is an alcohol. Alcohols have a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a carbon atom in the molecule. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with only single bonds, while alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with a double bond.


1 Why does alcohols have properties intermediate between hydrocarbons and water?

Because the structure is intermediate between water and hydrocarbon. Chemical reactivity is determined by structure. It does what it does because of what it is, it is "kinda like" water it "acts somewhat like water ", it is somewhat like a hydrocarbon it acts like or chemically reacts somewhat like a hydrocarbon.


Why are alkenes from alcohols not used on an industrial scale?

Since alcohols are obtained by hydration of alkenes, it is meaningless to manufacture alkenes from alkanes. Moreover, cracking hydrocarbons is a more effective and economical to make alkenes. Shawkat


What accounts for the similar physical properties of alcohols?

The similar physical properties of alcohols are primarily due to their common functional group, the hydroxyl group (-OH), which influences their hydrogen bonding capabilities. This leads to higher boiling and melting points compared to hydrocarbons of similar molecular weight. Additionally, the polarity of the hydroxyl group contributes to their solubility in water, making alcohols generally more hydrophilic than non-polar compounds. These factors collectively result in the characteristic physical properties observed across various alcohols.

Related Questions

What hydrocarbons are acids and alcohols?

None - hydrocarbons are chemically different than acids and alcohols


Are alcohols saturated hydrocarbons?

No, alcohols are not saturated hydrocarbons. Alcohols contain a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group, which is not present in saturated hydrocarbons. Saturated hydrocarbons consist only of carbon-carbon single bonds and carbon-hydrogen bonds.


What is the difference between alochol and oil?

Both alcohols and oil are organic compounds. The hydrocarbons in crude oil are mostly alkanes, cycloalkanes and various aromatic hydrocarbons, and tend not to contain oxygen, nitrogen, etc. Alcohols DO contain oxygen, in the form of the functional -OH alcoholic group. Alcohols are more reactive than the compounds in oil.


Why are alcohols soluble in polar solvents while hydrocarbons are not?

Alcohols contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group which can form hydrogen bonds with polar solvents, making them soluble. In contrast, hydrocarbons lack these polar functional groups and interactions, leading to poor solubility in polar solvents.


Is 2 butanol alkane alkene or alcohol?

2-butanol is an alcohol. Alcohols have a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a carbon atom in the molecule. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with only single bonds, while alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with a double bond.


1 Why does alcohols have properties intermediate between hydrocarbons and water?

Because the structure is intermediate between water and hydrocarbon. Chemical reactivity is determined by structure. It does what it does because of what it is, it is "kinda like" water it "acts somewhat like water ", it is somewhat like a hydrocarbon it acts like or chemically reacts somewhat like a hydrocarbon.


Why are alkenes from alcohols not used on an industrial scale?

Since alcohols are obtained by hydration of alkenes, it is meaningless to manufacture alkenes from alkanes. Moreover, cracking hydrocarbons is a more effective and economical to make alkenes. Shawkat


What has the author Lewis Frederic Hatch written?

Lewis Frederic Hatch has written: 'Isopropyl alcohol' -- subject(s): Isopropyl alcohol 'From hydrocarbons to petrochemicals' -- subject(s): Petroleum chemicals 'Higher oxo alcohols' -- subject(s): Alcohols


How are alcohols different from hydrocarbons?

They've got an oxygen atom between the carbon backbone (or atom, in the case of methanol) and a hydrogen atom at one or more points. This pair of atoms, an oxygen and a hydrogen, is called a hydroxyl group. There are a LOT of different alcohols. Some have only one hydroxyl group. These are the monohydric alcohols, of which there are three: methanol, ethanol and isopropanol. Some have two, and these are the diols. The glycols are diols. Alcohols with three hydroxyl groups are triols. Glycerol is a triol. The final group are the polyols, which have more than three hydroxyls - in most cases thousands of them. Most polyols are used to make plastic.


What kind of substance is oil?

Crude oil is a mixture of lots of different organic chemicals, there is alkanes (methane, ethane, propane ... octane ... C18H38) and alkalies, alcohols and lots of different hydrocarbons.


Alcohols are organic compounds that contain?

Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a carbon atom. They can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary depending on the number of carbon atoms bonded to the carbon with the hydroxyl group. Alcohols can be used as solvents, fuels, and in the production of various chemical compounds.


What kind of substance is crude oil?

Crude oil is a mixture of lots of different organic chemicals, there is alkanes (methane, ethane, propane ... octane ... C18H38) and alkalies, alcohols and lots of different hydrocarbons.