The action of Nitrous Acid, HNO2, on Primary Amines, RNH2. The chemical properties of any given aliphatic alcohol depends on the nature of the alkyl group in the molecule and on the properties of the hydroxyl group. Alcohols react with organic acids to form Esters . The reaction proceeds slowly but the rate of esterification is increased by the presence of hydrogen ions, which act as a catalyst in the reaction. Sulphuric Acid in addition to acting as a source of hydrogen ions also helps to increase the yield of ester by absorbing the water as it is formed in the reaction.
Alcohols are very weak acids, intermediate in strength between acetylene and water.
They undergo substitution with strongly electropositive metals such as sodium. Alcohols react with phosphorus pentachloride, when the hydroxyl group is replaced by a chlorine atom. Thus, when the hydroxyl group is replaced by a chlorine atom from phosphorus pentachloride fumes of hydrogen chloride are evolved and this is used in testing for the presence of the hydroxyl group in a compound. No gaseous alcohols are known. They have varying solubility in water, the higher alcohols being less soluble.