What is the general formula for alcohols?

The general formula for alcohols is CnH2n+1OH.

Alcohols are organic compounds and they are characterised by the presence of one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to a carbon atom. The general formula for alcohols, CnH2n+1OH, represents this structure. In this formula, 'n' stands for the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol molecule. The 'H' and 'OH' represent hydrogen and hydroxyl groups respectively.

For example, if 'n' is 1, the formula becomes C1H2(1)+1OH, which simplifies to CH3OH. This represents methanol, the simplest alcohol, which has one carbon atom, three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group. If 'n' is 2, the formula becomes C2H2(2)+1OH, which simplifies to C2H5OH. This represents ethanol, which has two carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group.

The general formula CnH2n+1OH is a useful tool for understanding the structure of alcohols and predicting the properties of different alcohols. For instance, as the number of carbon atoms (n) increases, the alcohol becomes less soluble in water and has a higher boiling point. This is because the size and mass of the molecule increase, leading to stronger intermolecular forces that require more energy to overcome.

Remember, the 'n' in the formula can be any whole number from 1 upwards. This means there are many different possible alcohols, each with its own specific properties. However, they all share the common feature of having at least one hydroxyl group attached to a carbon atom, as represented by the general formula.