What is the Difference Between Alcohols and Phenols?

The main difference between alcohols and phenols lies in the structure and acidity of these two types of organic compounds. Here are the key differences:

1. Structure: Alcohols usually feature the hydroxyl group attached to aliphatic hydrocarbons, while phenols usually contain aromatic hydrocarbons and have a hydroxyl group directly attached to the aromatic ring.
2. Acidity: In comparison to alcohols, phenols are known to be more acidic. This is due to resonance delocalization of the negative charge in the phenoxide conjugate base.
3. Usage: Alcohols, such as ethanol, are the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages and are also used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals and ink. Phenols, on the other hand, are mainly used in medicinal products as antiseptic agents.

In summary, alcohols and phenols both contain hydroxyl groups, but they differ in the structure of the compounds, with alcohols having hydroxyl groups attached to aliphatic hydrocarbons and phenols attached to aromatic hydrocarbons. Additionally, phenols are more acidic than alcohols due to resonance delocalization of the negative charge in the phenoxide conjugate base.

Comparative Table: Alcohols vs Phenols

Here is a table comparing the differences between alcohols and phenols:

Alcohols are aliphatic compounds with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a saturated carbon atom, while phenols are aromatic compounds with a hydroxyl group attached to an aromatic ring. Alcohols are neutral in nature and do not have any effect on litmus paper, whereas phenols are slightly acidic and turn litmus paper red. Alcohols do not react with sodium hydroxide, but phenols react readily with sodium hydroxide to form phenoxides.