Question

(a) What are alcohols? State their sources.

(b) Give general formula of monohydric alcohol

[2 MARKS]

Answer 1

Each part: 1 Mark

(a) Alcohols are the hydroxyl derivatives of alkanes and are obtained by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms of alkane by - OH group.
Methanol is obtained by destructive distillation of wood and ethanol is obtained by the fermentation of sugar. Other alcohols are obtained by synthesis.

(b) General formula of monohydric alcohols : $C_n{H}_{2n+1}OH$, where n = 1,2,3...