Alcohols

The compounds in which hydroxyl group (-OH) is attached to a saturated carbon atom are called as Alcohols.

Classification of alcohols

#1 On the basis of the number of carbons attached to the α- carbon atom, i.e., the carbon to which the OH group is attached, alcohols are classified as:

• Primary (1⁰) alcohol: This type of alcohol has only one carbon atom attached to the α- carbon atom. For example:

• Secondary (2⁰) alcohol: Here α- carbon has two other carbon atoms attached to it. For example:

• Tertiary (3⁰) alcohol: In such alcohol three other carbon atoms are attached to the α- carbon atom.

#2 On the basis of the number of hydroxyl groups (-OH) present, alcohols can be divided into the following categories:

• Monohydric alcohols: They contain only one OH group. They have a general formula C_nH_2n+2O. For example: CH₃OH, CH₃CH₂OH, etc.
• Dihydric alcohols: Such alcohol two OH groups. For example:

• Trihydric alcohols: This type of alcohols contains three OH groups. For example:

• Polyhydric alcohols: These are the alcohols that contain more than three OH groups.