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Butanol

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Butanol is a compound with chemical formula C4H9OH.

About Butanol

Butanol is a transparent liquid (at room temperature).
Butanol can be oxidised to produce Carbon Dioxide and Water.
Butanol + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Butanol is an alcohol molecule with chemical formula C4H9OH.

About Butanol

Butanol is a transparent liquid (at STP).
Butanol has several isomers.

Butan-1-ol

Chemical Formula (CnH2n+2) Structural Formula Structural Diagram Ball and Stick Model
C4H9OH CH3CH2CH2CH2OH
StructuralDiagramButan-1-ol.png
BallandStickButan-1-ol.png
The combustion of Butanol produces Carbon Dioxide and Water.
Butanol + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water

\(C_4H_9OH + 6O_2 → 4CO_2 + 5H_2O\)

Butanol can also be oxidised at low temperatures to produce Water and the Carboxylic Acid; Butanoic Acid.

\(C_4H_9OH + O2 → C_3H_7COOH + H_2O\)

Butanol can be oxidised to produce Carbon Dioxide and Water.
Butanol + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water

Butan-1,2-diol

Chemical Formula (CnH2n+2) Structural Formula Structural Diagram Ball and Stick Model
C4H8(OH)2 CH3CH2CHOHCH2OH
StructuralDiagramButan12diol.png
BallandStickButan12diol.png
The combustion of Butandiol produces Carbon Dioxide and Water.
Butandiol + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water

\(2C_4H_8(OH)_2 + 11O_2 → 8CO_2 + 10H_2O\)

References

AQA

Butanol, page 238, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA