Acidity of alcohols
According to Bronsted theory, an acid is defined as a proton donor and
the acid strength is the tendency to give up a proton. Alcohols are weakly
acidic and their acidity is comparable with water. Except methanol, all other
alcohols are weaker acid than water. The Ka value for water is 1.8 ×10−16 where as
for alcohols, the Ka value in the order 10−18 to 10−16.
Alcohols react with active metals such as sodium, aluminium etc… to form
the corresponding alkoxides with the liberation of hydrogen gas and similar
reaction to give alkoxide is not observed in the reaction of alcohol with NaOH.
2C2 H5 - OH + 2Na → 2C2 H5ONa + H2 ↑
The above reaction explains the acidic nature of alcohols.
Related Topics
Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant
Copyright © 2018-2023 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.