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please help me with this question

can you please tell me why the energy released by an alcohol increases as the number of carbon atoms increases?

thanks in advance
Reply 1
Avatar for jumjum
jumjum
14
carbon and combustion ?

Original post by mymo
can you please tell me why the energy released by an alcohol increases as the number of carbon atoms increases?

thanks in advance


when more hydrogen bonds are made
that is when energy is released
try this site: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alcohols/background.html
Original post by Safiya122


I swear chemguide is basically why I passed my A-levels

Without it, I'd be doing sociology or retail assistant
Original post by R Dragon
I swear chemguide is basically why I passed my A-levels

Without it, I'd be doing sociology or retail assistant


Nothing wrong with sociology haha
Original post by Safiya122
Nothing wrong with sociology haha


nuuu I didn't mean to imply there was, I loved it at A-level

but I meant to say I'd be in a non-science related field

inb4 sociology is a science...
Reply 6
Avatar for mymo
mymo
OP
i thought it was something to do with the fact that alcohols with longer chains (carbon bonds) need more energy to be broken and thus more energy is released?

and thanks for the link :smile:
Original post by mymo
i thought it was something to do with the fact that alcohols with longer chains (carbon bonds) need more energy to be broken and thus more energy is released?

and thanks for the link :smile:

are you doing an isa on it
Reply 8
Avatar for mymo
mymo
OP
yes i am, finding it quite hard
Original post by mymo
i thought it was something to do with the fact that alcohols with longer chains (carbon bonds) need more energy to be broken and thus more energy is released?

and thanks for the link :smile:


No, this is completely illogical.

The energy released is due to the formation of strong carbon=oxygen double bonds in carbon dioxide. The more carbon in the original compound the more carbon dioxide is formed and therefore the more the energy that is released.
Reply 10
Avatar for mymo
mymo
OP
ok thanks :smile:

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