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  1. Alcohol | Definition, Formula, & Facts | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohols may be considered as organic derivatives of water (H2O) in which a hydrogen atom has been replaced by an alkyl group. Examples include ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol.

  2. Structure and classification of alcohols - Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · As with other types of organic compounds, alcohols are named by both formal and common systems. The most generally applicable system is that adopted at a meeting of the …

  3. Alcohol - Boiling Point, Solubility, Flammability | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohol - Boiling Point, Solubility, Flammability: Most of the common alcohols are colourless liquids at room temperature. Methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol are free …

  4. Alcohol - Reactions, Chemistry, Uses | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · The most common reactions of alcohols can be classified as oxidation, dehydration, substitution, esterification, and reactions of alkoxides. Alcohols may be oxidized to give ketones, …

  5. Characteristics of alcohol | Britannica

    Many alcohols occur naturally and are valuable intermediates in the synthesis of other compounds because of the characteristic chemical reactions of the hydroxyl group.

  6. Alcohol - Ethanol, Methanol, Propanol | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohol - Ethanol, Methanol, Propanol: Methanol (methyl alcohol) was originally produced by heating wood chips in the absence of air. Some of the carbohydrates in the wood are …

  7. Alcohol - Fermentation, Synthesis, Distillation | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · A wide variety of alcohols can be synthesized by Grignard additions. A Grignard reagent adds to formaldehyde to give a primary alcohol with one additional carbon atom, to an aldehyde to …

  8. Chemical compound - Alcohols, Phenols, Structure | Britannica

    Sep 26, 2025 · Both alcohols and phenols are widespread in nature, with alcohols being especially ubiquitous. The hydroxyl group of alcohols and phenols is responsible for an interesting variety of …

  9. Lipid - Fatty Acids, Esters, Alcohols | Britannica

    Dec 1, 2025 · It reacts with alcohols (R′OH) to form products known as esters (RCOOR′) and releases water in the process. This ester bond is the principal covalent bond linking fatty acid moieties to other …

  10. Organic Chemistry, Sulfur Compounds, Mercaptans - Britannica

    Thiol nomenclature is relatively similar to the nomenclature of alcohols. However, instead of adding the suffix -ol as in the case of alcohols, thiols are usually named by adding the suffix -thiol.