2007-07-14 06:11:29 · 13 answers · asked by Sujith 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Alcohols and water can act as a Lowry-Bronsted acid OR base.
R-OH + H2O <=> R-O(-) + H3O(+)
R-OH + H2O <=> R-OH2(+) + OH(-)
Water does that itself.
H2O + H2O <=> H3O(+) + OH(-)
These substances are said to be AMPHIPROTIC
2007-07-14 06:18:24 · answer #1 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Alchohol is the equivalent of an alkali to the organic chemist:-
"Acid+Alchohol = Ester+Water"
A parallel to the inorganic chemist's alkali:-
"Acid+Alkali = Salt+Water".
I suppose it's all down to formal definitions, but whether alchohol is acid or alkali seems to be a case of "apples and oranges", not really a proper comparison.
2007-07-15 23:48:07 · answer #2 · answered by Valmiki 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sujith,
As the first answerer suggested, alcohols CAN act as either an acid or a base. But in most media, deprotonating the OH group of an alcohol is very difficult because is leaves too strong a negative charge on the oxyen, which is not the case with water. Thus, most alcohols will predominantly act as a base in acidic, neutral, or even slightly basic solutions.
2007-07-14 06:45:07 · answer #3 · answered by mnrlboy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are many types of alcohol, so the answer varies depending on which specific alcohol you are asking about. An alcohol is any chemical with the formula R-OH where R is any organic (carbon-containing) group of atoms.
The most common alcohol (or at least the most well-known) is ethanol, which is the alcohol in "adult" beverages. Ethanol has a pH of around 6, meaning it is a very weak acid (water is considered neutral and has a pH of 7).
Ethanol has this chemical formula:
C2H5OH
R-OH (it's R group is C2H5)
As I said before there are many other alcohols, all of which have greatly differing properties based on their R groups.
Hope this helps.
2007-07-14 06:23:50 · answer #4 · answered by whatismypr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol is a weak alkali or a weak base R-OH
2007-07-14 07:02:13 · answer #5 · answered by coffee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol is metabolized in the body as an acid though.
2007-07-14 06:22:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An alcohol is hydrogen and oxygen together, which is ever so slightly acidic. It's one of the weakest forms of acid.
2007-07-18 03:26:04 · answer #7 · answered by Katri-Mills 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ordinary alcohols are somewhat less acidic than water. Aromatic alcohols (phenol) are more so.
2007-07-14 14:39:51 · answer #8 · answered by Fly On The Wall 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl (or substituted alkyl group). The G.Formula for it is CnH2n+1OH.
So it is therefore and alkali since it has the the OH ion.
Hope that helps.
2007-07-14 06:19:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
I go with Mnrlboys explaination too, as a chemist I second that.
2007-07-16 03:35:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋