Chapter 13: Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers

A set of vocabulary flashcards from Chapter 13 focusing on alcohols, phenols, and ethers, including key definitions and concepts.

Alcohol

A compound in which an —OH group is attached to an aliphatic carbon atom.

Phenol

A compound in which an —OH group is connected to a benzene ring.

Hydroxy group

The —OH functional group found in alcohols.

Ether

A compound that contains an —O— linkage between two carbon groups.

Primary alcohol

An alcohol where the —OH group is attached to a primary carbon atom.

Secondary alcohol

An alcohol where the —OH group is attached to a secondary carbon atom.

Tertiary alcohol

An alcohol where the —OH group is attached to a tertiary carbon atom.

Dehydration Reaction

A reaction in which water is removed from a compound, often leading to the formation of alkenes or ethers.

Oxidation

A process by which a carbon atom gains bonds to more electronegative elements, typically oxygen.

Reduction

A process by which a carbon atom gains bonds to less electronegative elements, usually hydrogen.

Diol

An alcohol containing two —OH groups.

Triol

An alcohol containing three —OH groups.

Saytzeff’s Rule

In elimination reactions, the major product will have the most substituted alkene.

Cyclic Ethers

Ethers which contain a ring structure where one or more atoms are an atom other than carbon.

Heterocyclic ring

A ring structure that contains atoms other than carbon.

Isopropyl alcohol

Another name for 2-propanol, commonly used as rubbing alcohol.

Ethanol

Ethyl alcohol, commonly found in alcoholic beverages, and produced from ethylene or yeast fermentation.

Methanol

Methyl alcohol, used as a solvent and highly toxic.