Mr. V. T.

Pawar,
Asst.Prof.,
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department
Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur.
 Ethanol is miscible with water and is a good general purpose solvent. It is found
in paints, tinctures, markers, and personal care products such as mouthwashes,
perfumes and deodorants.
 However, polysaccharides precipitate from aqueous solution in the presence of
alcohol, and ethanol precipitation is used for this reason in the purification
of DNA and RNA.
 Because of its low melting point (−114.14 °C) and low toxicity, ethanol is
sometimes used in laboratories (with dry ice or other coolants) as a cooling
bath to keep vessels at temperatures below the freezing point of water.
 an official preparation of ETHANOL, used as a disinfectant, solvent, and preserv
ative, and applied topically as a rubbing
compound, disinfectant, astringent, hemostatic, and coolant.
Name of Test Test Observation Inference

Jones Dissolve 10 mg or 2 drops of the unknown in 1 A positive test for Presence of

Oxidation mL of pure acetone in a test tube and add to the aldehydes and primary or primary and
for Primary solution 1 small drop of Jones reagent (chronic secondary alcohols Secondary
and acid in sulfuric acid). A positive test is marked consists in the production alcohols.
Secondary by the formation of a green color within 15 of an opaque suspension
Alcohols seconds upon addition of the orange-yellow with a green to blue
reagent to a primary or secondary alcohol. color. Tertiary alcohols
Aldehydes also give a positive test, but tertiary give no visible reaction
alcohols do not. within 2 seconds, the
solution remaining
orange in color.

Lucas Test To 0.2 mL or 0.2 g of the unknown in a test Appearance of a cloudy Presence of
for tube add 2 mL of the Lucas reagent at room second layer or emulsion Secondary
Secondary temperature. Stopper the tube and shake 3o alcohols: immediate to alcohols or
and Tertiary vigorously, then allow the mixture to stand. 2-3 minutes tertiary
Alcohols Note the time required for the formation of the 2o alcohols: 5 -10 alcohols.
alkyl chloride, which appears as an insoluble minutes
layer or emulsion. 1o alcohols: no reaction
The Lucas reagent is already prepared for you.
 Methanol can be used as a fuel. Methanol burns in air to give carbon
dioxide and water.
2CH3OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 4H2O
 Methanol is used as a useful fuel for stunt and racing cars as it is less
inflammable and can be mixed with water.

 It is also used as a solvent.

 Methanol is also used to make other chemicals such as formaldehyde.

 Being a polar liquid at room temperature, it is used as antifreeze and a

denaturant for ethanol.
Name of Test Test
Jones Dissolve 10 mg or 2 drops of the unknown
Oxidation for in 1 mL of pure acetone in a test tube and
Primary add to the solution 1 small drop of Jones
and reagent (chronic acid in sulfuric acid). A
Secondary positive test is marked by the formation of
Alcohols a green color within 15 seconds upon
addition of the orange-yellow reagent to a
primary or secondary alcohol. Aldehydes
also give a positive test, but tertiary
alcohols do not.
Ritter Test It is oxidation of primary and secondary
Oxidation for alcohols to carboxylic acids and ketones
Primary using potassium permanganate (KMnO4).
and Again tertiary alcohols can not be oxidized
Secondary by this reagent because there is no
Alcohols hydrogen to be lost from the carbon that
bears the OH group. Set three small tests
tubes. Add 2 ml of acetic acid to each tube.
Add 3-4 drops of the test alcohols to each
tube and then add one drop of saturated
KMnO4 solution to each test tube. Shake
vigoursly to mix, using a small cork as
before.
Observation Inference
A positive test for aldehydes Presence of
and primary or secondary primary and
alcohols consists in the Secondary
production of an opaque alcohols.
suspension with a green to
blue color. Tertiary alcohols
give no visible reaction within
2 seconds, the solution
remaining orange in color.
For the primary and secondary
alcohol there will be brownish Presence of
colour develop as the purple primary and
KMno4 colour disappears.. Do Secondary
not add too much KMnO4. If alcohols.
you add excess of this reagent,
the purple colour will persist
even though you have a
primary or secondary alcohol.
With the tertiary alcohol you
should see no colour change
since the purple colour
remains.
Name of Test Observation Inference
Test
Lucas Test To 0.2 mL or 0.2 g of the unknown in a test tube add Appearance of a cloudy Presence of
for 2 mL of the Lucas reagent at room temperature. second layer or emulsion Secondary
Secondary Stopper the tube and shake vigorously, then allow 3o alcohols: immediate to 2-3 alcohols or
and the mixture to stand. Note the time required for the minutes tertiary
Tertiary formation of the alkyl chloride, which appears as an 2o alcohols: 5 -10 minutes alcohols.
Alcohols insoluble layer or emulsion. 1o alcohols: no reaction
The Lucas reagent is already prepared for you.
Iodoform Take two medium-sized test tubes. Make sure there Formation of yellow Presence of
Test is no acetone present in your test tubes. Acetone also precipitate. secondary
gives a positive iodoform test. To each test tube, add This test is slightly different methyl
4-5 drops of test alcohol, 2 ml H2O, 2ml 10% from the previous three tests. alcohol
sodium hydroxide solution. If your alcohol does not This test does not distinguish
fully dissolve, add 1 ml of ethanol. Add a 10% 10, 20, 30 alcohol but is
solution of iodine (I2)in potassium iodide (KI) specific for only one class of
dropwise. Keep adding the dark iodine solution with alcohol. This is for the
stirring until you see a faint yellow colour persisting secondary methyl alcohol. If
in the test tube. Note the reaction that is occuring. As the alcohol contains a methyl
you add the iodine to the sodium hyroxide solution, group attached to a carbon
you are forming your sodium hypoiodite reagent. that also has a hydrogen and
Add enough iodine so that you have a slight excess an OH group then it will give
of iodine as evidenced by a persistent yellow or a positive iodoform test. The
brownish colour. You should see a yellow precipitate formation of a yellow
starting to form within five minutes. Sometimes you precipitate indicates a
may need to heat the mixture to 60oC in a water bath. positive test.
Chlorobutanol is a well accepted widely used, very effective preservative in
many pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products, e.g. injections, ointments, products
for eyes, ears and nose, dental preparations, etc.

It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and has been used for more than
130 years when it was first manufactured.

Chlorobutanol is typically used at a concentration of 0.5 % where it lends long

term stability to multi-ingredient formulations.

Chlorobutanol is a medicine that is used for the treatment of Mild pain on skin,
Scratches, Grazes, Dental plaque formation, Gingivitis, Oral hygiene and other
conditions.
 It imparts an emollient feel to the skin and can be used in water-in-oil
emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, and anhydrous formulations. It is
commonly used in hair conditioners and other hair products
 Cetyl alcohol is used in the cosmetic industry as an opacifier in shampoos,
or as an emollient, emulsifier or thickening agent in the manufacture of
skin creams and lotions
 It is also employed as a lubricant for nuts and bolts, and is the active
ingredient in some "liquid pool covers" (forming a surface layer to reduce
evaporation and retain heat).
 Benzyl alcohol is used as a general solvent for inks, waxes, shellacs,
paints, lacquers, and epoxy resin coatings. Thus it can be used in paint strippers,
especially when combined with compatible viscosity enhancers to encourage the
mixture to cling to painted surfaces. It is a precursor to a variety of esters, used in
the soap, perfume, and flavour industries. It is also used in e-liquid for e-cigarettes
to enhance the flavors used.
 When applied to damaged skin or mucous membranes at a 10% concentration it
acts as a local anesthetic and antimicrobial agent, and is sometimes included as a
degreaser in rug cleaning products.
 As a dye solvent, it enhances the process of dying wool, nylon, and leather.
 It also has use as a photographic developer, and as an insect repellent.
 Benzyl alcohol is used as a bacteriostatic preservative at low concentration in
intravenous medications, cosmetics and topical drugs.
 Benzyl alcohol is used effectively for treating lice infestations as the active
ingredient in lotion shampoo with 5% benzyl alcohol.
 Glycerol is taken by mouth for weight loss, improving exercise performance,
helping the body replace water lost during diarrhoea and vomiting, and reducing
pressure inside the eye in people with glaucoma. Athletes also use glycerol to
keep from becoming dehydrated.
 Healthcare providers sometimes give glycerol intravenously (by IV) to reduce
pressure inside the brain in various conditions
including stroke, meningitis, encephalitis, Reye's syndrome, pseudotumor
cerebri, central nervous system (CNS) trauma, and CNS tumors; for
reducing brain volume for neurosurgical procedures; and for treating fainting on
standing due to poor blood flow to the brain (postural syncope).
 Some people apply glycerol to the skin as a moisturizer.
 Eye doctors sometimes put a solution that contains glycerol in the eye to reduce
fluid in the cornea before an eye exam.
 Rectally, glycerol is used as a laxative.
 Propylene glycol (CH8O2) is a commonly used drug solubilizer in topical, oral,
and injectable medications. It is used as stabilizer for vitamins, and as a water-
miscible cosolvent.
 Propylene glycol has been used for over 50 years in a large variety of
applications.
 As a pharmaceutical additive, propylene glycol is generally regarded as safe.
However, in the pediatric population, propylene glycol has been implicated in
toxicity.
 The high concentration of propylene glycol contained in certain intravenous
drug products, such as phenytoin, diazepam, digoxin, and etomidate, may induce
thrombophlebitis.
 Propylene glycol is also used as moisturizer in cosmetic products and as a
dispersant in fragrances. There are many other food and industrial uses for
propylene glycol. As a food additive, propylene glycol is on the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) generally regarded as safe list