ALCOHOLS AND PHENOLS

ALCOHOL
• A compound that contains an –OH (hydroxyl)
group bonded to a tetrahedral carbon.
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALCOHOL

1. Made up of a chain of carbons and hydrogen

where an –OH is attached to the carbon.
2. General formula is CnH2n+1OH
3. Classified into primary, secondary and
tertiary alcohol.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 USES OF ALCOHOL
• Drinks
• Industrial methylated
spirits (meths)-
• Fuel
• Solvent
• Disinfectants
• Liquor
• Vinegar making
• Manufacturing of
plastics
 IUPAC RULES FOR NAMING ALCOHOL

1. Name the longest carbon chain that contains the

carbon atom bearing the –OH group. Replace
the –e ending of the corresponding alkane with
–ol.
2. Number the chain starting from the end nearer
the –OH group.
3. Name the substituents according to position on
chain, listing the substituents in alphabetical
order.
EXAMPLE
SEATWORK
 SEATWORK

CH3 OH

CH3 – C – CH – CH2 – Br

CH3
CYCLIC ALCOHOLS
SEATWORK
 PHENOLS
• aromatic compounds containing
one or more –OH groups
• discovered in 1865 by Joseph Lister
• simplest phenol is a carbolic acid
C6H5OH
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• More soluble in water than alcohol.

• Colourless
• White solids at room temperature.
• Highly toxic
• Reacts with active metals
 USES OF PHENOL
• For embalming bodies
• Oral analgesic
• Antiseptic for surgical instruments
• Raw material for the production of additives,
dyes, and herbicides.
 IUPAC NAMING OF PHENOLS
• Use the rules for aromatic compounds.
• (use --phenol rather than –benzene)

Example:

IUPAC name: 2-bromopheno

Common name: ortho-bromophenoll
SEATWORK
SEATWORK