www.gradeup.

co
www.gradeup.co

Organic Chemistry- Alcohol, Polymers, Fuels, Explosive

Alcohols

• These are the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group attached to saturated carbon atom which
have high melting and boiling point. Alcohols are highly soluble in water and are acidic
in nature.
• Classification on the basis of number of carbons attached to the α-carbon
o Primary (1o) alcohol- This type of alcohol has only one carbon atom attached to
the α-carbon atom

o Secondary (2o) alcohol- Here α-carbon has two other carbon atoms attached to
it

o Tertiary (3o) alcohol- In such alcohol three other carbon atoms are attached to
the α-carbon atom

• In alcohol, the oxygen of the -OH group is attached to sp3 hybridized carbon by a sigma
(s) bond formed by the overlap of sp3 hybrid orbital of carbon with an sp3 hybrid orbital
of oxygen.Thus, the C-O-H bonds in alcohols as well as phenols is not linear.
• In ethers, the four electron pairs i.e., the two bond pairs and two lone pairs of electrons
around the sp3 hybridized oxygen are arranged approximately in a tetrahedral
www.gradeup.co

arrangement. This bond angle is slightly greater than the tetrahedral angle due to the
repulsive interaction between the two bulky (-R) groups.

Important alcohols

Methanol

➢ also known as wood spirit

➢ It is colourless but have pungent smell
➢ Highly flammable
➢ Poisonous in nature
➢ Used in manufacturing of paints, varnishes, germicide, etc

Ethanol

➢ It is colourless but have pungent smell

➢ Highly flammable
➢ It is used in all alcoholic drinks like wine, beer, etc.
➢ In the form of rectified spirit (95% alcohol + 5% water), it is used as an antiseptic for
wounds.
➢ It is used in medicines like tincture iodine, cough syrups, tonics etc because it is a good
solvent.
➢ In cold countries it is used as antifreeze in automobiles.

Polymers

A polymer is a compound of high molecular mass formed by the combination of large number
of small molecules and process is called polymerisation. The small molecules which constitute
the repeating units in a polymer are called monomer units.

Homopolymer: The polymer formed from one kind of monomer is called homopolymer. For
Example, Polyethylene

Copolymer or mixed polymer: Polymer formed from more than one kind of monomer units is
called copolymer. For Example, Buna – S

CLASSIFICATION OF POLYMERS

Polymer can be broadly classified in following different manners.

1. Classification on the basis of the source

(i) Natural Polymers:

www.gradeup.co

The polymers which are found in nature are called natural polymers. These polymers include
proteins, polysaccharides, natural rubber, resins, gum etc. These are the products of vegetable
or animal origin and hence, are termed as biopolymers. Among polysaccharides starch is a
polymer of alpha-glucose(monomer) while in cellulose the repeating unit is derived from Beta-
glucose(monomer). Both starch and cellulose are synthesised by plants during process of
photosynthesis. Similarly, proteins (polypeptides or polyamides) are synthesised in living
organisms by polymerisation of Alpa-amino acids.

Rubber is also an important natural polymer. The monomer in the rubber is a hydrocarbon,
commonly named as isoprene (2-methyl-1, 3-butadiene).

(ii) Semi synthetic Polymers:

These are derived from naturally occuring polymers by chemical reaction such as gun-cotton,
vulcanised rubber, gun-cotton is obtained by nitration of cellulose. i.e., cellulose nitrater in gun-
cotton, vulcanised rubber is obtained by heating natural rubber with sulphur.

(iii) Synthetic Polymers:

The Polymers which are artificially prepared from monomers in the laboratories are called
synthetic polumers, these polymers inclide polythene, nylon, dacron, synthetic rubbers
polyester etc.

For Example, Nylon, dacron, bakelite, synthetic rubber, polystyrene etc.

Classification based on structure

These are of three types based on structure :

(a) Linear polymers: In which monomer units are interconnected to form long straight chains.
The polymeric chains are piled over one another to give a well packed structure. Such polymers
have high tensile strength, high densities and high melting point.

For Example High density polythene(HDPE), Nylon and polyesters

(b) Branched chain polymers: In which the monomeric units are linked to consitute long chains
(called main chain). There are parallel side chains of varying lengths which constitute branches.
Branched chain polymers are irregularly packed and they have lower tensile strength and lower
melting points as compared to linear polymers.

For Example Amylopectin, Low density polyehtene(LDPE)

www.gradeup.co

(c) Cross linked polymers: The monomeric units are linked together to constitute a three
dimensional network. Cross linked polymers are hard, rigid and brittle because of their network
structure.

For Example, Bakelite, Formladehyde, resin etc.

Classification based on synthesis

These are of two types :

(a) Condensation polymerisation: In this the monomer (same or different) units link with each
other by the removal of a small molecule (e.g. water, methyl alcohol) as a by product. The
polymer formed in known as condensation polymer. Nylon and terylene are the most common
examles. Since the condensation polymerisation proceeds by a stepwise intermolecular
condensation, it is also known as step polymerisation and the polymer formed is known as step
growth polymer.

(b) Addition polymerisation: This involves the self addition of several unsaturated molecules of
monomers without loss of any small mulecule to form a single giant molecule. The polymer
formed is known as addition polymer. Polythene is the most common example.

Classification based on interparticle forces (Molecular forces)

www.gradeup.co

The mechanical properties of polymers such as tensile strength, toughness, elasticity etc
depend upon intermolcular forces like van der waal forces and hydrogen bonds existing in the
macromolecules. In polymers, there is a collective effect of these forces all along chains. Longer
chain have more intense intermolecular forces. Polymers have been classified into four
categories.

(a) Elastomers: These are the polymers having elastic character. The polymer chains in such
type of polymers are held together by weakest intermolcular forces. These forces permit the
polymer to be stretched under stress but they regain their former shape when the stress is
relieved. The elasticity of such polymers can be further modified by introducing few cross links
between the chains.

For Example, Natural rubber, a gummy material has poor elasticity, but heating gummy rubber
with sulphur produced a material which was no longer sticky but had modified elasticity. Such a
material was called vulcanised rubber.

(b) Fibers: Polymers having the strongest intermolecular forces of attratiion are called fibres.
These polymers posses high tensile strength and high modulus. This can be attributed to the
strong intermolecular forces like hydrogen bonding as in the case of polyamides(e.g. nylon-66).
These strong forces also lead to close packing of chains and thus, impart crystalline nature to
the polymer. As a result of this, polymers show sharp melting points.

For Example, Nylon-66, dacron.

(c) Thermoplastics: These are the polymers which can be easily moulded into desired shapes by
heating and subsequent cooling to room temperature. The intermolecular forces in
thermoplastic polymers are intermediate to those of elastomers and fibers. Thermoplastic
polymers soften on heating and becomes fluid but on cooling they become hard.

For Example, Polyethene and polystyrene

(d) Thermosetting polymers: These are the polymers which become hard and setting on
heating. Heating results in excessive cross linking between the chains forming three
dimensional network of bonds.

For Example, Bakelite, melamine

Important Polymers

Polythene
www.gradeup.co

(i) Low density polythene(LDP): It is used in the insulation of electricity carrying wires and
manufacture of squeeze bottles, toys and flexible pipes

(ii) High density polyethylene(HDP): It is used for making containers, house wares, bottles,
toys, electric insulation etc

Polystyrene

• The monomers are styrene molecules.

• It is thermoplastic.
• It is used for making toys, radio and TV cabinets

Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

• It is used for making rain coats, toys, electrical insulation.

www.gradeup.co

• It is hard and resistant to heat and chemicals

Polytetrafluoroethane (Teflon)

• It is chemically inert and resistant to attack by corrosive reagent.

• It is used in making oil seals, gaskets and also for non-stick surface coated utensils

Nylon-66

• Nylon-66 is a linear polymer and has very high tensile strength

• It shows good resistance to abrasion
• Nylon-66 is usually fabricated into sheets
• It is used in bristles for brushes and in textile

Phenol-Formaldehyde Polymer
www.gradeup.co

• Bakelite is used for making combs, photograph records, electrical switches

Fuels
• Used to produce energy
• Types of fuels: Solid, Liquid, Gas
Solid fuel
• Coal- Coal, one of the most important primary fossil fuels, a solid carbon-rich material
that is usually brown or black and most often occurs in stratified sedimentary deposits.
As per the carbon content found, coal can be classified into the following categories:
➢ Anthracite, also called hard coal, is the most highly metamorphosed form of coal. It
contains more fixed carbon than any other form of coal and the least amount of
volatile matter; 92-95% C. (abundant in Australia)
➢ Bituminous: Bituminous coal, also called soft coal, the most abundant form of coal,
is intermediate in rank between subbituminous coal and anthracite. It is used
primarily as fuel in steam-electric power generation and to make coke.
➢ Lignite: used almost exclusively as fuel for electric power generation; 60-70% C.
➢ Peat: Most polluted ore of coal; 55% C.
Liquid fuel
• Petrol: used in vehicles, two & four wheelers.
• Diesel: used for heavy vehicles; electricity generation.
• Alcohols: used as a fuel in rockets and missiles.
www.gradeup.co

Gaseous fuel

Explosives

Explosive, are the substance that can be used to create a volume of swiftly expanding gas in an
extremely short time.

Types of explosives

• A mechanical explosive is one that relys on a physical reaction. This includes

overloading a container with compressed air. It has some application in mining.
• A nuclear explosive has a persistent nuclear reaction that kicks off with almost instant
rapidity, releasing large amounts of energy.

Basically, chemical explosives are of two types:

• Detonating, or high, explosives Detonating explosives, such as TNT and dynamite, are
characterized by extremely rapid decomposition and development of high pressure.
• Deflagrating, or low explosives, consist of just rapid burning substance. It produces
relatively low pressure. Under some situations, like using large quantities and a high
degree of confinement, some normally deflagrating explosives can be used to detonate.
Eg. black and smokeless powders.

Some Common Explosives

TNT(Trinitro toluene)
www.gradeup.co

• 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is a yellow, odorless solid that does not occur naturally in the
environment.
• It is commonly known as TNT and is an explosive used in military shells, bombs, and
grenades, in industrial uses, and in underwater blasting.
• TNT is explosive for two reasons. First, it contains the elements carbon, oxygen and
nitrogen, which means that when the material burns it produces highly stable substances
(CO, CO2 and N2) with strong bonds, so releasing a great deal of energy.

Dynamite

• Dynamite is a commercial explosive used mainly for demolition and mining.

• Invented in 1866 by Alfred Bernhard Nobel, it is more accurately described as the
packaging of nitroglycerin, a highly poisonous explosive liquid, or other volatile
compounds such as sensitized ammonium nitrate.

RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive)

• RDX stands for Royal Demolition eXplosive.

• It is also known as cyclonite or hexogen.
• The chemical name for RDX is 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine.
• It is a white powder and is very explosive.
www.gradeup.co

• RDX is used as an explosive and is also used in combination with other ingredients in
explosives.
• Its odor and taste are unknown.
• It is a synthetic product that does not occur naturally in the environment.
• It creates fumes when it is burned with other substances.