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Q.What are Alcohols? How are they classified?

Jammu Kashmir JkboseJKBOSE Class 12 Annual Regular Examination 2020Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Alcohols (R-OH) are classified mainly by how many -OH groups they carry and by the nature of the carbon atom the -OH is attached to.

Alcohols are organic compounds in which a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group is attached to a carbon atom of an aliphatic system (sp3-hybridised carbon), general formula R–OH, where R is an alkyl or substituted alkyl group.

Classification:

(a) On the basis of the number of -OH groups:

  • Monohydric alcohols — contain one -OH group, e.g. ethanol, CH3CH2OH.
  • Dihydric alcohols (glycols) — contain two -OH groups, e.g. ethylene glycol, HOCH2CH2OH.
  • Trihydric alcohols — contain three -OH groups, e.g. glycerol, CH2OH–CHOH–CH2OH.
  • Polyhydric alcohols — contain more than three -OH groups.

(b) On the basis of the nature of the carbon atom to which -OH is attached:

  • Primary (1°) alcohol — the -OH is on a carbon attached to only one other carbon atom (or none), R–CH2–OH. …
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