The reaction of 18 g of an unknown saturated monohydric alcohol with metallic sodium formed 24.6

| February 18, 2021 | education

The reaction of 18 g of an unknown saturated monohydric alcohol with metallic sodium formed 24.6 g of an alcoholate. Determine the alcohol formula.

The formula of the limiting monohydric alcohol looks like this: CnH2n + 1OH.
Let’s compose the equation for the reaction of the interaction of alcohol with sodium:
2CnH2n + 1OH + 2Na = 2CnH2n + 1ONa + H2;

The relative atomic mass of carbon is 12, hydrogen is 1, sodium is 23. Since alcohol and alcoholate have the same coefficients, they will have the same amount of substance. Therefore, the equation takes the following form:
18 / (12n + 2n + 1 + 16 + 1) = 24.6 / (12n + 2n + 1 + 16 + 23);

18 * (14n + 40) = 24.6 * (14n + 18);

252n + 720 = 344.4n + 442.8;

344.4n – 252n = 720 – 442.8;

92.4n = 277.2;

n = 3;

If n = 3, then 2n + 1 = 2 * 3 + 1 = 7.
Answer: the formula for alcohol is C3H7OH (propanol).



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