What Is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Alcohol

Stay informed about What Is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Alcohol. Our latest report covers key highlights in this concise summary.

Alcohols are hydroxyl group-containing organic compounds. There are three major types according to the structure; primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The key difference between primary and secondary alcohol is that in primary alcohol, the carbon atom that carries the -OH group is only attached to one alkyl group whereas, in secondary alcohol, the carbon atom that carries the -OH group is attached to two alkyl groups.

Reference:

1. “Chemistry.” Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Alcohols | BYJU’S. Available here   
2. “Primary Alcohol.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Sept. 2018. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.”Ethanol-2D-skeletal”By Bryan Derksen – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 
2.”Alcohol examples”By Walkerma (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia