Alcohols and phenols are classified as mono–, di–, tri-, or polyhydric compounds based on whether they contain one, two, three, or many hydroxyl groups, respectively.

Ethers are formed by the substitution of a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon by an alkoxy or aryloxy group (R–O/Ar–O).

An example of the application of alcohols is the use of ethanol in ordinary spirit for polishing wooden furniture.

Alcohols and phenols are formed when a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon, aliphatic or aromatic, is replaced by an –OH group.

The carbon-magnesium bond in Grignard reagents is covalent but highly polar, with carbon pulling electrons from magnesium. Grignard reagents are highly reactive and react with proton sources, such as water and alcohols, to give corresponding hydrocarbons.

Grignard reagents are organo-metallic compounds, specifically alkyl magnesium halides (RMgX). They are prepared by the reaction of haloalkanes with magnesium metal in dry ether.

The Zaitsev rule predicts that pent-2-ene is the major product in the dehydrohalogenation of 2-bromopentane, as it has a greater number of alkyl groups attached to the doubly bonded carbon atoms compared to other potential products.

Russian chemist Alexander Zaitsev formulated the Zaitsev rule in 1875. The rule states that in dehydrohalogenation reactions, the preferred product is the alkene with the greater number of alkyl groups attached to the doubly bonded carbon atoms.

b-Elimination involves the removal of a hydrogen atom from the b-carbon and a halogen atom from the a-carbon in a haloalkane. This process forms an alkene as a product.

The hydrolysis of optically active 2-bromobutane leads to the formation of (±)-butan-2-ol, illustrating racemisation with a mixture of products having the same and opposite configurations.