BRAINCAKEClassifying Alcohols
Alcohols contain the hydroxyl group, -OH, bonded to a saturated carbon atom. Alcohols with one -OH group have the general formula CnH2n+1OH. They are named with the ending -ol and a number to show the position of the -OH group, e.g. propan-2-ol.
Like halogenoalkanes, alcohols are classified by the number of carbon atoms bonded to the carbon that carries the -OH group:
• Primary (1°): the C-OH carbon is bonded to one other carbon. Examples: ethanol, CH3CH2OH, and butan-1-ol. Methanol, CH3OH, is also counted as primary.
• Secondary (2°): the C-OH carbon is bonded to two other carbons. Example: propan-2-ol, CH3CH(OH)CH3.
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Key terms in this lesson
- hydrogen bond
- A strong dipole attraction between a lone pair on a highly electronegative N, O or F atom and an H atom bonded to N, O or F.
More in Alcohols
- Reactions of Alcohols
- Conversion to Halogenoalkanes
- Dehydration
- Oxidation Reactions of Alcohols
- Purification by Simple Distillation
- Fractional Distillation
- Solvent Extraction
- Drying
All 16 lessons in Alcohols · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics