BRAINCAKEPrimary, Secondary and Tertiary Alcohols
Alcohols are classified by the number of carbon atoms bonded to the carbon atom that carries the -OH group.
Primary (1°): the C-OH carbon is bonded to one other carbon atom (and two hydrogens). Examples: ethanol, CH3CH2OH, and propan-1-ol, CH3CH2CH2OH. Methanol, CH3OH, has no other carbons but is also treated as primary.
Secondary (2°): the C-OH carbon is bonded to two other carbon atoms (and one hydrogen). Example: propan-2-ol, CH3CH(OH)CH3.
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All 13 lessons in Alcohols · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics