Alcohol (chemistry)

Ball-and-stick model of an alcohol molecule (R₃COH). The red and white balls represent the hydroxyl group (−OH). The three "R"s stand for carbon substituents or hydrogen atoms.^[1]

In chemistry, an alcohol is a type of organic compound that carries at least one hydroxyl (−OH) functional group bound to carbon.^[2]^[3] Alcohols range from the simple, like methanol and ethanol, to complex, like sugars and cholesterol. The presence of an OH group strongly modifies the properties of hydrocarbons, conferring hydrophilic (water-loving) properties. The OH group provides a site at which many reactions can occur.

^ "alcohols". IUPAC Gold Book. 2014. doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00204. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "Alcohols". doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00204
^ Saul Patai, ed. (1971). The Hydroxyl Group. PATAI'S Chemistry of Functional Groups. doi:10.1002/9780470771259. ISBN 978-0-470-77125-9.

[1] "alcohols". IUPAC Gold Book. 2014. doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00204. Retrieved 16 December 2013.

[2] IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "Alcohols". doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00204

[3] Saul Patai, ed. (1971). The Hydroxyl Group. PATAI'S Chemistry of Functional Groups. doi:10.1002/9780470771259. ISBN 978-0-470-77125-9.

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