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Questions tagged [alcohols]

For questions about saturated and unsaturated alcohols, their physical properties, their reactions, etc. For questions about phenol, use the [phenols] tag instead.

Alcohol refers to a class of organic compounds, which have a hydroxyl functional group bound to a saturated carbon atom (phenols are considered a separate class). It is often used as a synonym for ethyl-alcohol which is used in alcoholic beverages.

generic structure of alcohol

There are several kinds of alcohols, depending on the moieties $\ce{R}$. Important classes include simple acyclic alcohols with the general formula $\ce{C_{n}H_{2n + 1}OH}$. The most famous one amongst this group is ethyl-alcohol $\ce{H3C-CH2OH}$ which is used in beverages. It is therefore very common that alcohol refers to this particular molecule.

If hydroxylic group is connected with unsaturated carbon resulting compounds are called phenols, enols or ynols and have properties distinct from alcohols.

Alcohols of any kind find various applications as antiseptics, fuels and preservatives. Especially in and they are used as solvents. (See also Wikipedia.)

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Isopropyl Alcohol leaves a white haze on plastic, is there anything I can use to clean it off?

Recently I wanted to clean up some lubricant on some keyboard switches. On some forums, an Isopropyl alcohol bath was recommended so I decided to give that a try and went to purchase some 91% Isopropyl from Target(purest I could find near me and I…
sortofsleepy
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Can a product be alcohol free while containing isopropyl myristate or isopropyl palmitate?

I always find isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate in cosmetics, and I want to know if they have alcohol in them or not. I read that they are composed of alcohol and acid, but they are considered to be conditioning agents, so does that mean…
N7N
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Why does this flame travel (in a circular path, multiple times)

We filled a graduated cylinder with Ever Clear and let it overflow. Then we lit the liquid on fire. To our surprise the flame started running around the base of the cylinder. Why does this happen? http://webmshare.com/m7vb8
Max00355
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Mixing alcohol with aluminum sulphate

I am trying to make a mixture of the following ingredients: distilled water, alcohol, aluminum sulphate and glycerin. The problem is that when I add alcohol to the water and aluminum sulphate mixture (the aluminum sulphate is completely dissolved),…
Stefan
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Is it safe to mix methylated spirits with isopropyl alcohol?

I have about 200ml of methylated spirits and 500ml of 100% isopropyl alcohol that I want to mix together in a plastic drink bottle. I will use it for fuel in an alcohol burning stove while camping. I can't seem to find any other information about…
Brent Leslie
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Does myristyl glucoside contain alcohol?

I read that "myristyl glucoside is a product obtained by the condensation of myristyl alcohol with aglucose polymer." Does that mean that alcohol is part of the final product/myristyl glucoside itself? Or is all of the alcohol removed during the…
Katie
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How (in)flammable is "isopropyl alcohol" really?

I have an electric device which frequently gets very oily (it's a vaporizer for herbs). It came with a few individually packaged small "tissues" drenched in "isopropyl alcohol". I've used up them all now to clean the insides. After each cleaning…
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What is an example of an isopropyl alcohol resistant caulk?

What is a caulk (or bonding adhesive) that can be exposed permanently submerged in an isopropyl alcohol (>91%) bath? The idea came from this previous question: Silicone vs Alcohol It seems from one of the answers there the alcohol would be resistant…
worldburger
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Is there an easy way to detect methanol in spirits (which may have been adulterated)?

Is there an easy way to detect methanol in spirits, which, you suspect, may have been adulterated?
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Alcohol preparation process

Currently Studying in high school, I encountered a reaction in organic chemistry. I got a reaction in which alcohol(ethanol) was dehydrated to form unsaturated hydrocarbon(ethene) and water. I wanted to know that can the opposite of this also occur?…
Abhay Pratap
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Oxidation of Methanol - how to write the half reaction

I am trying to write the half reaction equations for: $$\ce{CH3OH + O2 -> HCOOH + H2O}$$ The primary goal for me here is to find out which reactant is oxidising without using prior knowledge of alcohol reactions. So I wrote $$\ce{CH3OH ->…
thetrueembodimentofstupidity
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List of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol

Is there a list of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols examples anywhere?
OogaBooga420
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What are the differences and similarities of Sugar Alcohol and the Alcohol in Alcoholic Drinks?

Question part 1: In particular of Sugar Alcohols, I ask about Sorbitol. I am a 100% strict teetotaler. I do not care if a small dose will not intoxicate me, I am absolutely anti-alcoholic. Recently I ate a few of some treat, first I checked the…
Colored life power
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