444 APPENDIX 



Alcohols. When the two-handed oxygen atom, linked to 

 hydrogen H and thus forming the hydroxyl molecule OH is linked 

 to the vacant hand of the radical, an alcohol is formed, e.g. 



H(H) 

 H C C (H) Ethyl Alcohol. 



When the terminal carbon is thus oxidised a Primary Alcohol is 

 formed but if a middle carbon atom is oxidised, a Secondary Akohol 

 is produced 



H OH H 



H C C C H Secondary Propyl Alcohol. 



H H H 



But the oxidation may involve more than one carbon atom and thus 

 the Polyvalent A Icohols are produced 



OH OH OH 



H C C C H Glycerin. 



I I I 

 H H H 



Aldehydes or Aldoses. When, from a Primary Alcohol the two 

 hydrogens marked above in brackets are removed, the vacant hand of the 

 -oxygen links to the vacant hand of the carbon to form an Aldehyde or 

 Aldose 



H 



H C C=:O Ethyl Aldehyde. 



H(H) 



Ketones or Ketoses. These are formed in the same way from the 

 Secondary Alcohols, thus : 



H O H 



TT n ri n TT Acetone, the Ketose of Secondary 



Propyl Alcohol. 



H H 



Acids. If the hydrogen of the Aldehyde marked in brackets is replaced 

 by hydroxyl OH, an acid is produced 



H 



I i H 



H C- -C O H Acetic acid. 



i! 



The carboxyl group to the right of the dotted line is characteristic of the 

 acids. 



