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A primary alcohol is an alcohol in which the hydroxy group is bonded to a primary carbon atom. It can also be defined as a molecule containing a “–CH₂OH” group. In contrast, a secondary alcohol has a formula “–CHROH” and a tertiary alcohol has a formula “–CR₂OH”, where “R” indicates a carbon-containing group.

Examples of primary alcohols include ethanol and 1-butanol.

Methanol is also generally regarded as a primary alcohol, including by the 1911 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

See also

• Alcohol (especially Nomenclature section for discussion on Secondary and Tertiary alcohols.)
• Oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids

References

1. "Definition: primary alcohol from Online Medical Dictionary". Retrieved 2007-11-22.
2. "Introducing Alcohols". Jim Clark (2015). Retrieved 2023-09-29.
3. Albert S. Tarendash (2001). Let's review: chemistry, the physical setting. Boston, Mass: Barron's. p. 161. ISBN 0-7641-1664-9.
4. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Alcohols" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 527.

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