How Do You Spell TERTIARY ALCOHOL?

Pronunciation: [tˈɜːʃjəɹɪ ˈalkəhˌɒl] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "tertiary alcohol" is derived from its chemical structure containing three carbon atoms bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH) that is attached to a tertiary carbon atom, which is bonded to three other carbon atoms. The IPA phonetic transcription for "tertiary alcohol" is [ˈtɜːʃəri ˈælkəhɒl], where the stress is on the first syllable. This word is commonly used in organic chemistry to describe a type of alcohol that has a tertiary carbon atom in its structure.

TERTIARY ALCOHOL Meaning and Definition

1. A tertiary alcohol is a type of alcohol that contains a hydroxyl (-OH) group bonded to a carbon atom that is attached to three other carbon atoms. In other words, it is an alcohol compound in which the hydroxyl group is bonded to a tertiary carbon atom.

   In organic chemistry, carbon atoms are classified as primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°) depending on the number of carbon atoms bonded to them. In the case of a tertiary alcohol, the carbon atom bonded to the hydroxyl group is attached to three other carbon atoms, hence the name "tertiary."

   Tertiary alcohols exhibit specific chemical properties due to the nature of the carbon atom they are bonded to. The presence of three alkyl groups attached to the tertiary carbon atom makes it highly crowded and bulky. This results in steric hindrance, which significantly affects the reactivity of the alcohol group in various chemical reactions.

   Compared to primary and secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols are generally more resistant to oxidation reactions. This is because the alkyl groups surrounding the hydroxyl group hinder the access of oxidizing agents to the primary site of reaction. Additionally, tertiary alcohols are less likely to undergo elimination reactions due to the difficulty in deprotonating the hydroxyl group.

   Tertiary alcohols find applications in various fields, including organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, and the production of polymers. Understanding their unique properties and reactivity is crucial in designing and developing novel chemical reactions and compounds.

2. An alcohol formed by the substitution of three alkyl molecules for as many hydrogen atoms.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for TERTIARY ALCOHOL

• tertiary alcohoh
• tertiary alcohon
• tertiary alcohom
• tertiaryalcohoel
• t ertiary alcohol
• te rtiary alcohol
• ter tiary alcohol
• tert iary alcohol
• terti ary alcohol
• tertia ry alcohol
• tertiar y alcohol
• tertiary a lcohol
• tertiary al cohol
• tertiary alc ohol
• tertiary alco hol
• tertiary alcoh ol
• tertiary alcoho l

Etymology of TERTIARY ALCOHOL

The term "tertiary alcohol" originates from the field of organic chemistry.

The word "alcohol" is derived from the Arabic term "al-kuhul" or "al-ghawl", which initially referred to a cosmetic powder obtained from distilling antimony. During the Middle Ages, the term was further extended to include any distilled substance such as spirits or alcoholic beverages. In the 18th century, it was specifically applied to compounds containing the hydroxyl functional group (-OH).

The term "tertiary" is used to describe the molecular structure of a tertiary alcohol. In organic chemistry, a tertiary alcohol is characterized by a carbon atom bonded to three other carbon atoms. The prefix "tert" is derived from the Latin word "tertius", meaning "third".