Distinguish between secondary butyl alcohol and tertiary butyl alcohol
Answers
Explanation:
Butyl alcohol (C4H9OH), any of four organic compounds having the same molecular ... (n-) butyl alcohol, secondary (sec-) butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, and tertiary (t-) butyl .
Answer:
isopropyl alcohol is CH3-CH(OH)-CH3 is a secondary alcohol..
t-butyl alcohol is (CH3)3C-OH) a tertiary alcohol.
The best way to distinguish between them is;' Lucas test'...this test is based upon the difference in reactivity of primary,secondary and tertiary alcohols with HCl. In this test the alcohol is mixed with Lucas reagent (an equimolar mixture of conc.HCl and anhydrous ZnCl2) at room temperature when turbidity due to the formation of insoluble alkyl chloride is observed.
If the turbidity appears immediately ,the alcohol is tertiary. If the turbidity appears in about 5 minutes alcohol is secondary. A primary alochol however does not react with lucas reagent at room temperature and hence no turbidity is formed...
so (CH3)3-C-OH + HCl + ZnCl2(anhydrous) -----> (CH3)C-Cl + H2O (turbidity appears immediately)
CH3-CH(OH)-CH3 + HCl + ZnCl2(anhydrous) ----.>CH3-CH(Cl)-CH3 + H2O (turbidity appears in 5 minutes)