Answer:
The mole is important because it allows chemist to work with a subatomic world with macro world units and amount. Atoms molecules and formula units are very small and very difficult to work with usually. However the mole allows a chemist to work with amount large enough to use.
To yield an alcohol from an alkane, one reaction could be from alkyl halide through hydrolysis reaction. The alkyl halide should be pentyl chloride. When you add water to it, the OH⁻ ion will replace Cl to make 1-pentanol, while the Cl⁻ ion binds with H⁺ to form HCl. The main product is pentanol, while the by-product is HCl.
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