A primary alcohol is an alcohol in which the hydroxy group is bonded to a primary carbon atom. It can also be defined as a molecule containing a “–CH2OH” group. [1] In contrast, a secondary alcohol has a formula “–CHROH” and a tertiary alcohol has a formula “–CR2OH”, where “R” indicates a carbon-containing group.
Examples of primary alcohols include ethanol and 1-butanol.
Methanol is also generally regarded as a primary alcohol, [2] [3] including by the 1911 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. [4]
See also
- Alcohol (especially Nomenclature section for discussion on Secondary and Tertiary alcohols.)
- Oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids
References
- ^ "Definition: primary alcohol from Online Medical Dictionary". Retrieved 2007-11-22. [ permanent dead link]
- ^ "Introducing Alcohols". Jim Clark (2015). Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ Albert S. Tarendash (2001). Let's review: chemistry, the physical setting. Boston, Mass: Barron's. p. 161. ISBN 0-7641-1664-9.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 527.
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