Organic molecules

Table of Contents

1. Organic molecules
2. Hydrocarbons
   1. Names and structures of hydrocarbons
3. Reactions of hydrocarbons
   1. Substitution reactions
   2. Addition reactions
4. Functional groups
   1. Identifying functional groups
5. Alcohols
   1. Structure of alcohols
   2. Physical properties of alcohols
6. Reactions of alcohols
   1. Oxidation reactions
   2. Carboxylic acids
   3. Alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters
   4. Identification of alcohols
7. Nitrogen in organic molecules
   1. Amines
   2. Amino acids
8. Determination of formulae and structures
   1. Empirical formulae
   2. Molecular mass and formula

1. Additional resources:
   1. Glossary
   2. Print content

Structure of alcohols

Alcohols can be classified as three different types (primary, secondary and tertiary) based on their structure. The most important carbon atom in organic molecules is often the carbon atom which is attached to the functional group. This is because when the compound reacts, it is often the bonding of this carbon atom which changes.

In the case of alcohols this atom can be described as the alcoholic carbon atom. This is shown in the following diagram.

The classification of the alcohols is based on how many other carbon atoms are attached to the alcoholic carbon atom. Watch the videos which show examples of the three types of alcohols.

Complete the Summary worksheet which asks you to draw two-dimensional structures of the alcohols in the videos, and draw and name one other example of each type.

Being able to distinguish between the types of alcohols is important as the different types will behave in different ways as you will see in the following sections.