GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - Alcohol - Structure - Molecular Formula - Homologous Series - Structural - OH - Functional Group

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Alcohols.

Alcohols are organic molecules which form an homologous series
with the general formula C_nH_2n₊₁OH.
Alcohols (like hydrocarbons) are named
according to the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.

Methanol, CH₃OH, has n=1.	Butanol, C₄H₉OH, has n=4.
Ethanol, C₂H₅OH, has n=2.	Pentanol, C₅H₁₁OH, has n=5.
Propanol, C₃H₇OH, has n=3.	Hexanol, C₆H₁₃OH, has n=6.

Organic molecules contain carbon. The alkanes and alkenes are examples.
Just as alkanes are identified as saturated hydrocarbons,
and alkenes are identified by their double bond,
so alcohols are identified by having an O–H group in the molecule.

The group which identifies an organic molecule
and gives it its chemical properties is called its functional group.
The O–H group is the functional group for alcohols.

Below are links to the structural formulae of alcohols.
The structural formula is sometimes called the displayed formula.

Methanol Ethanol

Propanol Butanol Pentanol

Cholesterol is a complex steroid which is also an alcohol.
Cholesterol is an essential substance which is used to make cell membranes.
Essential means that you can't live without it.
However, too much cholesterol is bad for people and can cause heart disease.

Headings Alcohols Search Questions

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