How can you identify a tertiary alcohol?

To identify a tertiary alcohol, you need to understand the classification of alcohol based on the carbon atom to which the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached. A tertiary alcohol is characterized by having its hydroxyl group attached to a carbon that is connected to three other carbon atoms. This structural arrangement significantly influences the properties and reactivity of the alcohol.

In the context of the choices provided, option C accurately describes this characteristic of tertiary alcohols. The carbon atom in question, which bears the hydroxyl group, must be at the center of a carbon chain with three substituents (the three carbons). This arrangement is key to distinguishing tertiary alcohols from primary and secondary alcohols, where a primary alcohol is attached to a carbon connected to one other carbon, and a secondary alcohol is attached to a carbon connected to two other carbons.

Understanding this classification is crucial, as it affects the behavior of alcohols in chemical reactions and their interaction with other compounds. Tertiary alcohols often exhibit different reactivity compared to primary and secondary alcohols due to factors such as steric hindrance and the stability of the intermediates formed during reactions.