Question

How can you tell that CH3CH2CH2OH is not a base? I thought that all compounds ending with a hydroxide were bases. Additionally, how can you tell that a compound is a base?

Answer 1

Solution :-

According the to Arhhenius acid base theory compounds which gives the hydronium ion (H^+) in the aqueous solution are called acids and the compounds which gives hydroxide ions (OH^-) ions when they dissolved in water are considered as base.

CH3CH2CH2OH is the alcohol which is non electrolyte therefore when dissolves in acid then it does not form any ions hence it does not produce OH^- ion therefore it is not base.

metal hydroxides gives hydroxide ions therefore they are considered as bases for example

NaOH ---- > Na^+ + OH^- since it gives the OH^- ion therefore it is base

But this is not the case with  CH3CH2CH2OH because it do not produce the OH^- ion therefore it is not base.