Alcohols are a separate class of organiccompounds that contain one or more hydroxyl groups in their composition. Depending on the number of OH groups, these oxygen-containing compounds are divided into monohydric alcohols, triatomic, etc. Most often, these complex substances are considered as derivatives of hydrocarbons, the molecules of which have undergone changes, one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a hydroxyl group.
The simplest representatives of this class are monohydric alcohols, the general formula of which is as follows: R-OH or
The homologous series of these compounds begins with methyl alcohol or methanol (CH3OH), followed by ethanol (C2H5OH), then propanol (C3H7OH), etc.
Alcohol is characterized by isomerism of the carbon skeleton and functional group.
Monohydric alcohols exhibit such physical properties:
These physical properties of saturated alcohols withone hydroxyl group can be explained by the appearance of an intermolecular hydrogen bond between the individual molecules of the compound itself or alcohol and water.
Monohydric alcohols are able to enter into such chemical reactions:
Having considered the chemical properties of alcohol,to conclude that monohydric alcohols are amphoteric compounds, since they can react with alkali metals, exhibiting weak acid properties, and with hydrogen halides, showing basic properties. All chemical reactions proceed with the disruption of the bond O-H or C-O.
Thus, the limiting monohydric alcohols -These are complex compounds with one OH group that do not have free valencies after the formation of a CC bond and exhibit weakly acid and base properties. Due to their physical and chemical properties, they have found wide application in organic synthesis, in the production of solvents, additives to fuel, as well as in the food industry, medicine, cosmetology (ethanol).