Q.What type of compound is an alcohol ? How is monohydric alcohol classified ?
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Alcohol = R–OH (hydroxyl on an sp3 carbon). Monohydric alcohols are classified as primary, secondary or tertiary depending on whether the -OH-bearing carbon is bonded to one, two or three other carbon atoms.
What type of compound is an alcohol?
Alcohols are hydroxy derivatives of alkanes (or hydroxy compounds of aliphatic carbon) in which one or more hydrogen atoms of a saturated carbon are replaced by hydroxyl (–OH) group(s). The functional group is –OH attached to an sp3 (saturated) carbon. General formula: CnH2n+1OH, i.e. R–OH. According to the number of –OH groups they may be monohydric (one), dihydric (two, glycols), trihydric (three, e.g. glycerol) etc.
Classification of monohydric alcohols (single –OH):
Based on the nature of the carbon atom carrying the –OH group, monohydric alcohols are of three types:
- Primary (1°) alcohol — the –OH is on a carbon attached to only one other carbon atom (a –CH2OH group). Example: ethanol, CH3–CH2–OH. Methanol (CH3OH) is also counted as primary. …
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