What is Alcohol: Definition and 159 Discussions

In chemistry, alcohol is an organic compound that carries at least one hydroxyl functional group (−OH) bound to a saturated carbon atom. The term alcohol originally referred to the primary alcohol ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is used as a drug and is the main alcohol present in alcoholic drinks. An important class of alcohols, of which methanol and ethanol are the simplest members, includes all compounds for which the general formula is CnH2n+1OH. Simple monoalcohols that are the subject of this article include primary (RCH2OH), secondary (R2CHOH) and tertiary (R3COH) alcohols.
The suffix -ol appears in the IUPAC chemical name of all substances where the hydroxyl group is the functional group with the highest priority. When a higher priority group is present in the compound, the prefix hydroxy- is used in its IUPAC name. The suffix -ol in non-IUPAC names (such as paracetamol or cholesterol) also typically indicates that the substance is an alcohol. However, many substances that contain hydroxyl functional groups (particularly sugars, such as glucose and sucrose) have names which include neither the suffix -ol, nor the prefix hydroxy-.

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  1. S

    Specific Gravity of Alcohol.

    Homework Statement An aluminum cylinder weighs 1.03 N. When this same cylinder is completely submerged in alcohol, the volume of the displaced alcohol is 3.89 multiplied by 10-5 m3. If the cylinder is suspended from a scale while submerged in the alcohol, the scale reading is 0.732 N. What...
  2. M

    Calculating Volume Displaced of Block in Water & Alcohol

    Homework Statement A solid block is attached to a spring scale. The reading on the scale when the block is completely immersed in water is 25.2 N, and the reading when it is completely immersed in alcohol of density 806 kg/m^3 is 25.9 N. Homework Equations F buoyancy = (Density of the...
  3. J

    Alcohol Boiling Points & Distillation Basics

    boiling point?? What is a literature boiling point?? Is it the same thing as just normal boiling point? What does this temperature tell us in regards to distillation of alcohol? (alcohol properties)
  4. G

    Medical What's responsible if you feel no reward from alcohol, coffee, ?

    I was wondering where the addictive effect from alcohol and coffee comes from in the brain? I personally do not feel any "positive" effect what so ever from alcohol (cheer up, lose inhibitions, more talkative, ...) or coffee (stimulating). There are "consumption unrelated" things that do that...
  5. S

    Which is worse; marihuana, alcohol or tobacco?

    I've tried looking for info but honestly I'm quite pissed at all the incoherence out there. Some sources say marihuana is like 3-4 times more harmful to your lungs than tobacco. However, according to wikipedia, there hasn't been a reported death directly attributed to marihuana...so how can that...
  6. S

    Cross-linking Polyvinyl Alcohol

    Some friends and I are working on a movie, and we need a very stringy clear slime; like is produced with polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked with disodium tetraborate. Only we need it to be food-safe, so we can't simply use that. Is there another way to cross-link PVA into a stringy slime using...
  7. J

    Medical What does your liver do with alcohol?

    If You drink a lot of alcohol, you do not become permanently drunk. It is common for people to say that your liver does the job of getting rid of it, But How does it do it?
  8. G

    Is Alcohol as Dangerous as Tobacco?

    http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/320/5878/862.pdf Finally someone is calling out alcohol when tobacco has been pretty much getting all of the heat.
  9. G

    What is the most amount of alcohol you drank in 1 day?

    Me: half a bottle of 151 and a 1/4 bottle of tequila. Also 3/4 of a 5th of JD. Yes it was dumb and yes I was very sick the next day. Next?
  10. R

    Boiling Point Mystery for Ethyl Alcohol

    Hello everyone! I've encountered a small problem with one of our "special" assignments. Question: The normal boiling point for ethyl alcohol is 78.4 C, S for C2H5OH(g) is 282,7 J/mol*K. At what temperature is the vapor pressure of ethyl alcohol 357 mm Hg? Maybe I'm stupid, but I can't find...
  11. hxtasy

    Is rubbing alcohol and anticoagulant

    Question as stated. Just wondering because when i get cuts i put rubbing alcohol on it, but i have come to believe that that does not help the bleeding to stop.
  12. H

    Calculating Heat Value for Alcohol Combustion

    Hey. We have an assignment where we're investigating combustion of types of 'fuels'. I chose 4 alcohols- ethanol, methanol, propanol and octanol. I did a few experiments, with one testing the heat produced Could you please explain the formula for the heat value- not quite sure what its...
  13. S

    Calculated the pressure of the alcohol

    Homework Statement Air is trapped above liquid ethyl alcohol in a rigid container. If the air pressure above the liquid is 1.10atm, determine the pressure inside a bubble 4.0m below the surface of the liquid. Image: Think of a cylindrical container with a layer of air at the top. The...
  14. F

    Isopropyl Alcohol Package Seals: Interaction Risk?

    I've noticed the metallic package seals on some bottles of isopropyl alcohol and other products tend to flake into the bottle when trying to remove it. This doesn't seem like a good thing. Could the substance used in the seal interact with common skin care ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide...
  15. kach22i

    Alcohol to Electric Conversion

    A remark in another forum has cause more quesions to pop up, please try to answer or just lay back and enjoy the ride. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9432&page=3 The "E" in E-85" is ethanol which is a type of alcohol, right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85 1...
  16. S

    Drawing and Naming C4H9OH Isomeric Alcohol

    Homework Statement There is a fourth isomeric alcohol with formula C4H9OH. Draw a structural formula for this isomer and write its systematic name. The Attempt at a Solution I am stuck... This is part of a chemistry lab about the reactivities of isomeric alcohols but I have no idea what...
  17. L

    Calculating Fraction of Alcohol in Water-Alcohol Mixtures

    In an 8-gram solution of water and alcohol, the ratio by mass of water to alcohol is 3 to 1. If 12 grams of a solution consisting of 2 grams water for each gram of alcohol is added to the 8-gram solution, what fraction by mass of the new solution is alcohol? -- I know that the first thing you...
  18. S

    Can the alcohol destroy the property of vitamin C?

    If I put some kind of alcohol, can it destroy the property of vitamin C?
  19. C

    Isopropyl Alcohol Electron Dot Diagram

    Homework Statement Draw out the electron dot diagram for isopropyl alcohol. Homework Equations C3H7OH The Attempt at a Solution Carbon = 4 valence electrons, multiplied by 3 carbons gives us 12 valence electrons for carbon. Hydrogen = 1 valence electrons, multiplied by 8 hyrdogens = 8...
  20. C

    Using Fick's Law: Separating Water from Alcohol and Aromatic Components

    I've been doing tons of research on Fick's Law. I understand how to derive it and what its used for. I just need to see an example of it being used. I need to use this equation to separate water from an alcohol and aromatic component. Any help is greatly appreciated.
  21. I

    Calculate the Difference in Height of Glycerin and Alcohol

    Homework Statement Glycerin is poured into an open U-shaped tube until the height in both sides is 20 cm. Ethyl alcohol is then poured into one arm until the height of the alcohol column is 20 cm. The two liquids do not mix. What is the difference in height between the top surface of the...
  22. ‡

    Making Wood Alcohol/Methyl Alcohol

    Something I've been wondering a lot lately is how would you make your own wood alcohol? It seems somewhat simple and I can't find any decent things on google about it. Anyone know how to make? Or have a step by step process on it. Edit: Actually I think I am looking for ethyl alcohol. But both...
  23. A

    BIO Experiment involvin paramecia, c14, alcohol - Need some info

    Homework Statement Okay this isn't really a question from the textbook or anything but I'm having a horribly hard time trying to find information on an experiment involving c14, paramecia and alcohol. There are questions I have to answer about this and I've tried googling for information for...
  24. F

    Weed & Alcohol: Impact on Teen Development

    In humans, what exactly will happen to a young teen if he/she does weed and alcohol? Like will their growth stop such as their sex organs and their height and whatnot, or will their brain stop maturing or what? Which of the propaganda is true?
  25. J

    Boiling points of alcohol and mercury?

    Boiling points of alcohol and mercury?? who can tell me the boiling point of alcohol and mercury??
  26. A

    Identifying a tertiary alcohol

    Suppose you are given 3 alcohols primary secondary and tertiary. I have to design an experiment that can be carried out with commonly available materials and equipment that would identify the tertiary alcohol. I don't know what to do, can someone please help me out?
  27. S

    Preparation of Alkyl Halide from Alcohol

    Explain why the aqueous washing of your alkyl halide product from the reaction of t-butyl alcohol with concentrated HCL must be carried out quickly. Washing the product with aqueous NaOH would get rid of any traces of acid left by neutralizing it, but I don't understand what time has to do...
  28. M

    Aluminum cylinder in alcohol

    An aluminum cylinder weighs 1.01 N. When this same cylinder is completely submerged in alcohol, the volume of the displaced alcohol is 3.88 × 10-5 m3. The apparent weight of the cylinder when completely submerged is 0.778 N. What is the specific gravity of the alcohol? m=W/g...
  29. zoobyshoe

    Medical Does Alcohol Really Kill Brain Cells?

    There's a common belief that every glass of alcohol you drink kills a certain number of brain cells. This is a myth I thought I'd clear up here, one that results from a severe condition sometimes seen in chronic alcoholics called Wernicke-Korsakov's Syndrome...
  30. Evo

    Alcohol use helps boost income: study

    Oh now this is preposterous. I agree that in "sales" socializing in places where you can meet potential clients can result in more sales, but I don't see how Zz or Moonbear cruising bars and tying one on will increase their income. Also, you do not need to drink alcoholic beverages just...
  31. T

    Who invented isopropyl alcohol?

    Hi Everyone, I am pulling my hair out trying to find the answer to this question. I went to the links posted links for history, and to no avail. I've tried looking at history of egyptians, greeks etc. but their history is drinking alcohol. Does anyone have a good idea where I could start. I've...
  32. T

    Alcohol Combustion Which fuel is best

    What I have to do is find out which fuel would be best to use as an automotive fuel. My choices are methanol ethanol and propanol. My guess so far is propanol because it has a molar enthalpy of combustion of 2021kJ/mol which is close to double ethanol (1367kJ/mol) but it needs much more...
  33. wasteofo2

    Best way to neutralize alcohol in your body?

    Is there an easy way to help neutralize/digest alcohol once you're intoxicated? For instance, would drinking lots of things with aceitic acid cause esterification to occur within your body, getting the alcohol out quicker? Is there something else that could be done?
  34. I

    Does OH Group Have Lowest Coefficient When Naming Alcohol?

    when naming an alcohol, does the OH group have to have the lowest coefficient?.. just making sure...:blushing:
  35. D

    How is benzyl alcohol synthesized?

    I try to find the synthesis of benzyl alcohol, but I can't get it. Can some one show me how to do the synthesis of benzyl alcohol, in detail. Can someone give me the website to find the synthesis of benzyl alcohol Thanks
  36. W

    Why Does Alcohol Increase Sound Sensitivity?

    Hi All, I have a pretty off the wall question. I’m looking for a legit biological answer, not just asking for the sake of asking. Admittedly, I like to party it up fairly often – I drink a fair amount of alcohol, but don’t do drugs of ANY kind. I’ve noticed that my senses towards sound...
  37. N

    Empirical Formula of Unknown Alcohol

    An unknown alcohol is analyzed by combustion. When a 1.50 gram sample of the compound (containing C, H, and O) is burned, 3.30g of CO2 and 1.80g of H20 are produced. Determine the empirical formula of the compound. What I did was find the number of grams of Carbon and Hydrogen that are...
  38. Ivan Seeking

    Is Alcohol Really the Key to Increased Intelligence and Efficiency?

    email received... "Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I...
  39. matthyaouw

    Alcohol absorbtion through skin.

    Ok, I'm drinking a whisky (a rather fine Islay blend too) and I'm increasingly noticing that the feeling in my upper lip is vanishing where the drink passes over it. I can only assume that I'm directly absorbing the alcohol through my skin, and the neurones in there are blind drunk. Am I right...
  40. K

    Blow Off the Cork with Methyl Alcohol & Alligator Clips

    I was at a science museum earlier and I saw a demonstration where methyl alcohol was put in a bottle that had two nails sticking out of the sides. Alligator clips were connected to the nails and something was connected to the clips (I think they said it was a grill starter). There was a cork...
  41. wasteofo2

    How is it that alcohol affects the human body?

    What is it about 2 carbons, 5 hydrogens and a hydroxyl that causes people to become intoxicated when they drink alcohol? Also, why does alcohol have a degenerative effect on the liver, kidney, heart, brain etc.? Thanks, Jacob
  42. wasteofo2

    Does physical activity aid in the metabolization of alcohol?

    Being a teenager and going through a Driver's Ed course, I'm constantly reminded that only time will sober you up after drinking, not a shower, not coffee, not a jog, nothing but time. This just seems stupid to me. Obviously jogging won't take you from hammered to sober, and I'm not going...
  43. wasteofo2

    Question on the rxn of Alcohol and Carboxylic acids.

    I've got some questions about the reaction of Alcohol with carboxylic acids, and the behavior of the esters formed. 1) Is there a way to determine how molar an alcoholic solution is by it's % alcohol by volume? 2) If you have determined how many moles of alcohol there are in a liquid and...
  44. F

    Calculating Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

    Figured this forum might be able to help more than the homework help, if not, feel free to redirect. I'm writing a program that calculates Blood Alcohol Content from various input the user gives (nothing fancy, straight forward simple calculation, prompting user for data, that sort of thing)...
  45. A

    What is the mechanism for demercuration of organomercurial alcohol?

    Can someone point me in the right direction to find a page that gives the actual mechanism for this reaction? My book just says "... demercuration, to remove the mercury. Sodium borohydride replaces the mercuric acetate fragment with hydrogen. Then it gives the reaction 4 organomercurial...
  46. J

    Does alcohol really help to evaporate water?

    Hi- For years I have always known that Methyl Alcohol is used as a method of removing water from natural gas piping. For example - a pressurized natural gas pipe has a small amount of water trapped in it. The water, under certain flow, and temperature conditions will vaporize and cause...
  47. ShawnD

    Purify Hard Booze with Brita - Enjoy a Great Tasting Caesar!

    Lately there seems to be a lot of attention on using a Brita filter to purify hard booze in order to make it taste better. I just have to say that it works better than you can ever imagine. I ran some crappy tequila through the filter a few times, and the horrible taste is completely gone...
  48. M

    Ethel Alcohol vs Steam: Power Plant Turbines

    I have been told steam is used to turn turbines in a power plant. Why wouldn't they use ethel alcohol? It has a lower heat of vaporization. So if I am not mistaken you would produce roughly twice as much ethel vapor to turn a turbine quicker generating more energy.Any help would be appriciated.
  49. D

    Does Alcohol Revenue Outweigh the Cost of Medical Bills and Deaths?

    Can anyone tell me if the revenue created from alcohol makes up for the medical bills and deaths created by it in terms of long-term revenue.
  50. M

    Can hormones affect memory and tolerance to alcohol?

    I have noticed that on days 28-4 my memory is awful. I have also noticed that during this period if I consume alcohol, I seem become intoxicated rapidly, and forget things much more than I normally would drinking the same amount. I tried to look at charts, but could not really work out a reason...
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