Allyl alcohol is spelled with three syllables as /ˈæl.ɪl ˈæl.kə.hɔl/. The first syllable is pronounced as /æl/ with a short "a" sound, followed by the second syllable /ɪl/ with a long "e" sound. The third syllable is pronounced as /æl.kə.hɔl/ with a stress on the last syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription helps to accurately represent the pronunciation of words and can be useful for language learners and those new to scientific terminology. Allyl alcohol is an organic compound that is used in the production of resins, plasticizers, and many other industrial chemicals.
Allyl alcohol, also known as 2-propen-1-ol or allylic alcohol, is an organic compound classified as a primary alcohol. Its chemical formula is C3H6O, with a molecular weight of 58.08 grams per mole. Allyl alcohol is a clear, colorless liquid that possesses a pungent, garlic-like odor.
Allyl alcohol is primarily used as a precursor for the production of various chemical compounds. It is commonly utilized in the synthesis of resins, flavors, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, it serves as an important intermediate in the manufacturing of numerous organic compounds, including glycerol, butanol, acrylic acid, and epoxy resins.
Despite its many applications, allyl alcohol is highly flammable and should be handled with caution. It can pose significant health hazards, as it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Additionally, prolonged exposure or inhalation of the vapor may cause drowsiness, headaches, and other harmful effects.
In terms of chemical reactivity, allyl alcohol readily undergoes various reactions due to the presence of both an unsaturated double bond and a hydroxyl functional group. It is susceptible to oxidation, esterification, polymerization, and the formation of other chemical derivatives. These reactions facilitate the transformation of allyl alcohol into valuable compounds used in different industries.
The word "allyl" in allyl alcohol comes from the term "allyl group", which refers to a specific chemical group or moiety (-CH2CH=CH2) attached to a molecule. The term "allyl" is derived from the word "allylic", which first appeared in organic chemistry literature in the mid-19th century. It was derived from the Latin word "allium", meaning garlic, as allyl compounds were originally isolated from garlic oil.
The word "alcohol" comes from the Arabic term "al-kuḥl", which referred to a fine powder produced by sublimation, specifically antimony trisulfide. Over time, the term was used to describe any substance obtained by a similar process and eventually came to refer to the class of compounds known as alcohols, which includes chemical compounds containing the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group.