How can I test for an alcohol?

May 21st, 2007
To detect the presence of the OH group regardless there are several simple tests that can be done, however they all have the disadvantage of interference by water.
A small piece of sodium metal can be placed in the alcohol and a steady stream of hydrogen bubbles gives a positive indication. Remember that the presence of water will also cause hydrogen to be evolved.
The suspected alcohol may be mixed with some PCl₅ and the evolution of misty HCl gas is a positive indication of an OH group. Once again water interferes.
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Primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols
There are three different types of alcohol depending on what is attached to the carbon holding the OH group.
· Primary – one alkyl group attached to the carbon holding the -OH
· Secondary – two alkyl groups attached to the carbon holding the -OH
· Tertiary alcohols – three alkyl groups attached to the carbon holding the -OH
To differentiate between the three it is possible to use oxidation with sodium dichromate in dilute sulphuric acid and heat.
The 1º alcohol oxidises to an aldehyde (alkanal) and then to a carboxylic acid (alkanoic acid)
The 2º alcohol oxidises to a ketone (alkanone) and stops there.
The 3º alcohol cannot be oxidised under these conditions.
Another (infrequently used) test is Lucas’ test for 1º, 2º, 3º alcohols.
It involves shaking the alcohol with ZnCl₂ and dilute HCl. The 3º alcohol goes cloudy almost at once, the 2º alcohol goes cloudy after a few minutes whereas the 1º alcohol needs concentrated HCl to go cloudy. The cloudiness is due to the formation of the haloalkane that is immiscible with the aqueous solution of the zinc chloride and forms tiny droplets of an organic phase within the aqueous phase.