Name: Isomerism in Alcohols
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min 5 s
Description: Chemical compounds that have the same chemical formulae but differ in property and arrangement of atoms in the molecule are called an isomer. Dive into this...

Question

How will you convert methanol to ethanol and vice-versa ?

Accepted Answer

The above conversion is carried out in various steps:

Step 1: Converting methyl alcohol to chloromethane

When methyl alcohol reacts with hydrogen chloride, it leads to substitution of alcoholic group and results in the formation of chloromethane.

$\underset{Methyl alcohol}{{CH}_{3} OH} + HCl \to \underset{Chloromethane}{{CH}_{3} Cl} + H_{2} O$

Step 2: Converting chloromethane to ethanenitrile.

When chloromethane is reacted with aqueous alcoholic solution of $KCN$ , it results in the formation of ethanenitrile.

$\underset{Chloromethane}{{CH}_{3} Cl} + KCN \to \underset{Ethanenitrile}{{CH}_{3} CN} + KCl$

Step 3: Converting ethanenitrile to ethanoic acid.

When hydrolysis of ethanenitrile in hot acidic or alkaline medium is carried out, it leads to the formation of ethanoic acid.

$\underset{Ethanenitrile}{{CH}_{3} CN} \overset{H^{+}, H_{2} O}{\to} \underset{Ethanoic acid}{{CH}_{3} COOH}$

Step 4: Converting ethanoic acid to ethyl alcohol.

When reduction of ethanoic acid is carried out in the presence of strong reducing agent such as, it leads to the formation of ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

$\underset{}{\underset{Ethanoic acid}{{CH}_{3} COOH} \overset{{LiALH}_{4} / Ether, H^{+}, H_{2} O}{\to} \underset{Ethyl alcohol}{{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} OH}}$

Conversion of ethanol to methanol

Ethyl alcohol on oxidation produces Ethanoic acid which on decarboxylation results in the products Methane and Carbon dioxide. The produced Methane on chlorination gives Methyl chloride which further reacts with aqueous $KOH$ gives Methanol.

$\underset{Ethyl alcohol}{{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} OH} \overset{K_{2} {Cr}_{2} O_{7} / conc . H_{2} {SO}_{4}}{\to} \underset{Ethanoic acid}{{CH}_{3} COOH} \to_{Sodalime, Heat}^{Na - Salt} \underset{Methane}{{CH}_{4}} \to_{hv}^{{Cl}_{2}} \underset{Methyl chloride}{{CH}_{3} Cl} \overset{aq . KOH}{\to} \underset{Methyl alcohol}{{CH}_{3} OH}$

How will you convert methanol to ethanol and vice-versa ?

Important Questions on Alcohols

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