Alcohols
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How can I distinguish between ethanol and methanol? Please explain the chemistry involved.
020608
Corrie writes .....
Ethanol, because it contains the CH3-CH(OH)- grouping, will react in the Iodoform reaction to produce a yellow precipitate of iodoform, CHI3. No such precipitate is produced with methanol.
The reagents for the iodoform reaction are iodine solution and sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate solution. The reaction is complicated. For more details I suggest you search 'Iodoform Reaction' on Google or Wikipedia.
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updated: 08 June 2008
