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Alcohols versus phenol

Comparison of ethanol, propan-2-ol and phenol showing where the OH group is attached and labelling primary alcohol, secondary alcohol and phenol.

Alcohols and phenols both contain an OH-OHOH group, but they are not the same family. In an alcohol, the OH-OHOH is attached to a saturated carbon atom; in phenol, it is attached directly to a benzene ring.

Alcohols and phenols Lesson