PRIMARY ALOCOHOL 5L

carbon atom. This carbon atom is bonded to at least two hydrogen atoms and one alkyl or aryl group. Primary alcohols are fundamental in organic chemistry and are used in a wide range of applications, including solvents, intermediates in chemical synthesis, and in the production of cleaning agents.

General Formula:

R-CH2OH
Where "R" is an alkyl or aryl group.

Key Characteristics:

• Functional Group: Hydroxyl (-OH).
• Structure: The -OH group is connected to a primary carbon atom (a carbon atom bonded to only one other carbon atom).
• Common Examples: Methanol (CH3OH), Ethanol (C2H5OH), 1-Propanol (C3H7OH), 1-Butanol (C4H9OH).
• Solubility: Lower primary alcohols are highly soluble in water due to hydrogen bonding; solubility decreases with increasing molecular weight.
• Boiling Point: Higher than corresponding alkanes due to hydrogen bonding.

Applications:

1. Industrial Solvents:
   • Used in the manufacture of varnishes, paints, and inks.
2. Chemical Intermediates:
   • Serve as starting materials for producing aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and esters.
3. Cleaning Agents:
   • Found in detergents, disinfectants, and glass cleaners due to their solvent properties.
4. Fuels and Energy:
   • Methanol and ethanol are used as biofuels and in fuel blends.
5. Pharmaceuticals:
   • Utilized in the synthesis of drugs and as a sterilizing agent.

Reactivity:

• Primary alcohols undergo oxidation to form aldehydes and further oxidation to carboxylic acids.
• They can participate in substitution and esterification reactions.

Advantages:

• Readily available and cost-effective.
• Versatile in industrial and laboratory settings.
• Generally safer and less toxic than secondary and tertiary alcohols.