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).
Alcohols, alkoxides and ethers
Find out how to name molecules with these functional groups and how they are classified.
Preparing a halogenoalkane from an alcohol
- how do you activate the leaving group?
- understanding nucleophilic substitution as a mechanism
Dehydrating alcohols
This reaction is an example of elimination – learn to draw the mechanism here.
Oxidising an alcohol to form a carbonyl group
Why do some alcohols form aldehydes, some form ketones and some just not react with oxidising agents?