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Organic Families - Alcohols & Ethers (DP IB Chemistry: SL)

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Alcohols & Ethers

Alcohols

  • Alcohols are a family of molecules that contain the hydroxyl functional group, -OH
  • Their general formula is  CnH2n+1OH
  • The nomenclature of alcohols follows the pattern alkan + ol
  • If there are two -OH groups present the molecule is called a diol

The first four Alcohols and their Structures Table

Alcohols table, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Classification of alcohols

  • Alcohols are classified as primary, secondary or tertiary depending on the number of carbons attached to the functional group carbon
  • This is covered in detail in Section 10.1.11

Ethers

  • Ethers are a family of molecules that contain the ether functional group, R-O-R, where R is an alkyl group
  • Their general formula is  CnH2n+2
  • The nomenclature of ether follows the pattern alkoxy + alkane
  • Sometimes you will see an older nomenclature for ethers where each R group is given an alkyl name
    • For Example: CH3OCH3 is dimethyl ether and C2H5OCH3 is ethyl methyl ether

  • Ethers are functional group isomers of alcohols

Ethers are useful substances

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

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Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.