What is a 1° alcohol?

1 Answer
Morgan
Mar 2, 2017

A #1^o# or primary alcohol refers to the alcohol functional group (-OH) of a molecule being bonded to a carbon atom which is bonded to only one other carbon atom.

Explanation:

Examples:

wikimedia
ethanol

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pentanol

A #2^o# or secondary alcohol refers to the alcohol functional group of a molecule being bonded to a carbon atom which is bonded to exactly two other carbon atoms.

chemsynthesis

A #3^o# or tertiary alcohol refers to the alcohol functional group of a molecule being bonded to a carbon atom which is bonded to exactly three other carbon atoms.

chemistry-reference

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