Background for Alcohols and Ethers
Alcohols contain an alkyl group attached to an OH.  Ethers contain two alkyl groups attached to an oxygen.  Small alcohols and ethers are soluble in water.  Alcohols and ethers are polar.  Alcohols and ethers have higher melting points and boiling points than alkanes with the same number of carbons.  Alcohols have intermolecular hydrogen bonding.  Ethers do not have intermolecular hydrogen bonding.  A 0^o alcohol has no alkyl groups attached to C bearing OH.  A 1^o alcohol has one alkyl group attached to C bearing OH.  A 2^o alcohol has two alkyl groups attached to C bearing OH. A 3^o alcohol has three alkyl groups attached to C bearing OH.  A phenol has OH attached to a benzene ring.

IUPAC Nomenclature for Alcohols and Ethers
The longest continuous carbon chain is the parent compound.  Number the chain so that the C-O bond has the lowest possible number.  Give the location of the C-O bond with a number.  Use Aanol@ for alcohols and Aane@ for ethers.  For ethers, the longest carbon chain is the parent compound and use Aoxy@ for the substituent group.  Name and number substituents.

Common Nomenclature for Alcohols and Ethers
For alcohols, use common prefixes, if needed.  An alcohol is named as an alkyl alcohol.  An ether is named as an alkyl alkyl ether, using common prefixes.  Alphabetize the groups.

Synthesis of Alcohols
Alkenes react with water, in the presence of acid, to yield alcohols.  The mechanism follows Markovnikov addition. Alkyl halides react with hydroxide to produce alcohols. Organolithium or Grignard reagents add to aldehydes and ketones to produce alcohols.  Hydrogen, from sodium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, or hydrogen, adds to aldehydes and ketones to produce alcohols.

Reactions of Alcohols
Alkoxide ions are formed from the reaction of alcohols with metal.  Alcohols react with hydrogen halide, phosphorus trihalide, or thionyl chloride to form alkyl halides. Alcohols are dehydrated with acid and heat to form alkenes.  Zero degree and primary alcohols are oxidized with pyridinium chlorochromate to form aldehydes.  Zero degree and primary alcohols are oxidized with sodium dichromate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, or chromium trioxide to form carboxylic acids.  Secondary alcohols are oxidized with sodium dichromate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, chromium trioxide, or pyridinium chlorochromate to ketones.  Tertiary alcohols are not oxidized with sodium dichromate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, chromium trioxide, or pyridinium chlorochromate. Alcohols react with carboxylic acids, in the presence of acid, to yield esters.

Synthesis and Reactions of Ethers
In the Williamson ether synthesis, alkoxide ions react with zero degree or primary alkyl halides to form ethers. Ethers are cleaved with hydrogen halides to form alkyl halides and alcohols.  The alkyl group in the alkyl halide is the least hindered alkyl group in the ether.

This tutorial provides the comprehensive coverage of the chapter with easy introduction and simple illustration. It features:

• Concept map showing interconnections of new concepts in this tutorial and those previously introduced.
• Definition slides introduce terms as they are needed.
• Visual representation of concepts.
• Use of colors to emphasis points.
• Outline of chemical properties, uses, and classification.
• Easy-to-follow animations of stated rules of nomenclature.
• Detailed stepwise explanations and animations of reactions and mechanisms.
• Examples worked out step-by-step throughout the tutorial.
• A concise summary is given at the conclusion of the tutorial.

Background Information for Alcohols and Ethers

• Definitions
• Properties
• Uses
• Classification 

Nomenclature of Alcohols and Ethers

• IUPAC
• Common

Synthesis of Alcohols

• From Alkenes
• From Alkyl Halides
• From Organometallic Reagents with Aldehydes and Ketones
• From Reduction of Aldehydes and Ketones

Reactions of Alcohols

• Formation of Alkoxide Ions
• Formation of Alkyl Halides
• Dehydration
• Oxidation
• Esterification

Synthesis and Reactions of Ethers

• Williamson Ether Synthesis
• Cleavage of Ethers