Alcohols are organic molecules containing a hydroxyl group, OH, and this functional group defines both the chemical and physical properties of the molecules.
The differing electronegativities of oxygen and hydrogen mean that the bond is polar and that there are hydrogen bonds between molecules. As a result, short chain alcohols are soluble or miscible with water and alcohols have higher boiling points (lower volatility) than the corresponding alkane.
Alcohols are important molecules in organic synthesis (your can check out the details their reactions below).
Naming alcohols, alkoxides and ethers
including classification of alcohols as primary, secondary or tertiary
Substitution of the OH for a halide by first activating the hydroxyl group
Dehydration of an alcohol to form an alkene
and the mechanism for elimination reactions
Oxidation reactions of alcohols
to form aldehydes and ketones