What type of alcohol has the OH group attached to a carbon that is bonded to one other carbon?

In organic chemistry, alcohols are classified based on the number of carbon atoms directly bonded to the carbon that carries the hydroxyl (OH) group.

A primary alcohol is characterized by the hydroxyl group being attached to a carbon atom that is bonded to only one other carbon atom. This means that the carbon with the OH group is at the end of the carbon chain. The general structure can be represented as R-CH2OH, where R is a carbon-containing group. Examples include ethanol and butanol.

This distinction is crucial because it affects the chemical properties and reactivity of the alcohol. Primary alcohols tend to undergo oxidation to form aldehydes and further oxidation to carboxylic acids, while secondary and tertiary alcohols have different oxidation products and rates.

In contrast, secondary alcohols have the hydroxyl group attached to a carbon that is bonded to two other carbon atoms, and tertiary alcohols have the OH group on a carbon atom bonded to three other carbons. Quaternary alcohols are not a standard classification, as a quaternary carbon cannot bear a hydroxyl group while still satisfying the tetravalency of carbon.

Understanding these classifications is fundamental in organic chemistry, particularly when discussing reactions involving alcohols.