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alcohol
An organic compound that contains a hydroxyl group (–OH) attached to a carbon atom in a hydrocarbon chain. The simplest alcohols are methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH). Primary alcohols have two hydrogen atoms on the carbon attached to the –OH, secondary alcohols have only one hydrogen on this carbon atom, and tertiary alcohols have none. Certain reactions can be used to differentiate between these different types. For example, potassium dichromate (IV) in sulfuric acid oxidizes a primary alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde, and a secondary alcohol to its corresponding ketone; however, with a tertiary alcohol there is no reaction.
When alcohols react with alkyl halides, such as methyl bromide (CH3Br), esters are produced. When alcohols are dehydrated, the products are alkenes or ethers.
If an alcohol has two –OH groups in its molecule it is called a diol. If it has three, it is a triol, and so on.
Related category
• ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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