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  1. Alcohol | Definition, Formula, & Facts | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohols may be considered as organic derivatives of water (H2O) in which a hydrogen atom has been replaced by an alkyl group. Examples include ethanol, methanol, and …

  2. Structure and classification of alcohols - Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · As with other types of organic compounds, alcohols are named by both formal and common systems. The most generally applicable system is that adopted at a meeting of the …

  3. Alcohol - Reactions, Chemistry, Uses | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · The most common reactions of alcohols can be classified as oxidation, dehydration, substitution, esterification, and reactions of alkoxides. Alcohols may be oxidized …

  4. Alcohol - Boiling Point, Solubility, Flammability | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohol - Boiling Point, Solubility, Flammability: Most of the common alcohols are colourless liquids at room temperature. Methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol are …

  5. Characteristics of alcohol | Britannica

    Many alcohols occur naturally and are valuable intermediates in the synthesis of other compounds because of the characteristic chemical reactions of the hydroxyl group.

  6. Alcohol - Ethanol, Methanol, Propanol | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohol - Ethanol, Methanol, Propanol: Methanol (methyl alcohol) was originally produced by heating wood chips in the absence of air. Some of the carbohydrates in the wood …

  7. Chemical compound - Alcohols, Phenols, Structure | Britannica

    Sep 26, 2025 · Both alcohols and phenols are widespread in nature, with alcohols being especially ubiquitous. The hydroxyl group of alcohols and phenols is responsible for an …

  8. Alcohol - Fermentation, Synthesis, Distillation | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · A wide variety of alcohols can be synthesized by Grignard additions. A Grignard reagent adds to formaldehyde to give a primary alcohol with one additional carbon atom, to an …

  9. Alcohol - Esterification, Chemistry, Reactions | Britannica

    Nov 26, 2025 · Alcohols can combine with many kinds of acids to form esters. When no type of acid is specified, the word ester is assumed to mean a carboxylic ester, the ester of an alcohol …

  10. Chemical industry - Alcohols, Derivatives, Synthesis | Britannica

    In the alcohols with three carbon atoms, there are two possible structures, or isomers. One is called n -propyl alcohol (or 1-propanol), the other isopropyl alcohol (or 2-propanol).