The boiling points of alcohols and phenols increase with an increase in the number of carbon atoms, but in alcohols, boiling points decrease with increased branching due to a decrease in van der Waals forces and surface area.

The properties of alcohols and phenols are chiefly due to the hydroxyl group, while alkyl and aryl groups modify these properties.

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.