Alcohols (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)

Alcohols

• All alcohols contain the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group which is the part of alcohol molecules that is responsible for their characteristic reactions

Diagram of the side chain and -OH group in ethanol which characterizes its chemistry

• Alcohols are colourless liquids that dissolve in water to form neutral solutions

• The first four alcohols are commonly used as fuels

• Methanol and ethanol are also used extensively as solvents

• This is because they can dissolve many substances that water cannot such as fats and oils, but can also dissolve most of the substances that water can

• The names and structures of the first four alcohols are shown below

• In terms of naming, the same system is used as for alkanes and alkenes, with the final ‘e’ being replaced with ‘ol’

Table Showing the Formulae and Structures of the First Four Alcohols