Alcohols and phenols are formed when a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon, aliphatic or aromatic, is replaced by an –OH group.
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The common feature in the formation of alcohols and phenols is the substitution of a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon with a hydroxyl group (-OH). In alcohols, this hydroxyl group is directly attached to a carbon atom of an aliphatic (linear or branched) or aromatic (ring-like) hydrocarbon. In phenols, the hydroxyl group is attached to a carbon atom of an aromatic benzene ring. The general chemical formula for alcohols is R-OH, where R represents the alkyl or aryl group, and for phenols, it is Ar-OH, where Ar represents an aryl group. Both classes of compounds share the hydroxyl functional group in their structures.
The common feature in the formation of alcohols and phenols is the substitution of a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon by a hydroxyl group (-OH). In alcohols, this hydroxyl group is directly attached to a carbon atom, whereas in phenols, it is attached to an aromatic ring. Both reactions typically involve the replacement of a hydrogen atom with a hydroxyl group through processes like hydration of alkenes for alcohol formation or electrophilic aromatic substitution for phenol formation. These transformations are fundamental in organic chemistry and can occur through various synthetic routes, providing versatility in the synthesis of these important functional groups.