Question

How can you distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols?

Answer 1

Before solving this question, we should know what are secondary alcohols and the basic difference between the primary alcohol, secondary alcohol and the tertiary alcohol.

Complete step by step answer:
- The alcohol groups are those that in a compound there is at least one hydroxyl group attached. The hydroxyl group is the basic functional group of the compound. The alcohols groups are divided into three types on the basis of the total number of alkyl groups which are connected to the carbon connected to the hydroxyl group.
- The simplest primary alcohol is $C{{H}_{3}}OH$ i.e. methanol, the simplest secondary alcohol is 2-propanol and the simplest tertiary alcohol is 2-methylpropan-2-ol.
- The simplest method to distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols is to determine how many carbon atoms are attached to the carbon atom which has the hydroxide group.
- In a primary alcohol only one carbon is attached to the carbon which bears the hydroxide group, in secondary alcohol two carbons are attached to the carbon which bears the hydroxide group and similarly, in tertiary alcohol three carbons are attached to the carbon which bears the hydroxide group.

Note: Many chemicals tests are also used to distinguish between the primary alcohol, secondary alcohol and tertiary alcohol. A chemical test called Lucas test is also used for the same purpose. The primary alcohol does not respond to the test, the secondary alcohol takes a bit of time and after that gives the result while the tertiary alcohol reacts immediately as come in contact with the Lucas reagent.