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What is commonly referred to as alcohol is just the most widely known example of a group of organic compounds which are collectively known as alcohols. The alcohol we drink is correctly called ethanol or ethyl alcohol and it has the chemical formula of C2H5OH. The alcohol functional group contains an -OH, or hydroxyl functional group, attached to carbon. Phenols are a subgroup of alcohol in which the hydroxyl groups are attached directly to the carbon atoms of a ring structure. Phenols have markedly different characteristics from the rest of the alcohols and the phenol group is discussed in a separate entry. Aliphatic dihydric alcohols are known as glycols.
If a compound possesses only one hydroxyl group then it is said to be a monohydric alcohol. Di-, tri-, and polyhydric alcohols also exist. Monohydric alcohols derive their names from the appropriate hydrocarbon with an ending of...
This section contains 1,027 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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