Home >
Community >
Are alcohol straight chain compounds or branched chain?
Upvote
10
Downvote
+ Alcohol
+ Chemistry
Posted by
Marty Bannister
Are alcohol straight chain compounds or branched chain?
Alcohols of both straight and branched chains are possible. It is better to classify alcohols in terms of the carbon they are attached to. Primary (1°) alcohols are attached to terminal carbons -CH2OH; ethanol is a primary alcohol. Secondary (2°) alcohols are attached to a carbon connected to two other carbons, -CH2-CHOH-CH2-; isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol. Tertiary (3°) alcohols are attached to carbons attached to three other carbons as in tert-butyl alcohol, HOC(CH3)3.
Alcohols of both straight and branched chains are possible. It is better to classify alcohols in terms of the carbon they are attached to. Primary (1°) alcohols are attached to terminal carbons -CH2OH; ethanol is a primary alcohol. Secondary (2°) alcohols are attached to a carbon connected to two other carbons, -CH2-CHOH-CH2-; isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol. Tertiary (3°) alcohols are attached to carbons attached to three other carbons as in tert-butyl alcohol, HOC(CH3)3.
Alcohols of both straight and branched chains are possible. It is better to classify alcohols in terms of the carbon they are attached to. Primary (1°) alcohols are attached to terminal carbons -CH2OH; ethanol is a primary alcohol. Secondary (2°) alcohols are attached to a carbon connected to two other carbons, -CH2-CHOH-CH2-; isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol. Tertiary (3°) alcohols are attached to carbons attached to three other carbons as in tert-butyl alcohol, HOC(CH3)3.
Alcohols of both straight and branched chains are possible. It is better to classify alcohols in terms of the carbon they are attached to. Primary (1°) alcohols are attached to terminal carbons -CH2OH; ethanol is a primary alcohol. Secondary (2°) alcohols are attached to a carbon connected to two other carbons, -CH2-CHOH-CH2-; isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol. Tertiary (3°) alcohols are attached to carbons attached to three other carbons as in tert-butyl alcohol, HOC(CH3)3.
More
VOTE