1-Pentanol

1-Pentanol, also called n-pentanol, is a straight-chain primary alcohol with the formula C₅H₁₂O. Its hydroxyl group is attached to a terminal carbon.

Alcohol: An organic compound containing a hydroxyl group bonded to a saturated carbon atom. 1-Pentanol belongs to this functional-group family because its terminal carbon bears a hydroxyl group.
Oxidation of alcohols: Chemical reactions that convert alcohols into more oxidized compounds. As a primary alcohol, 1-pentanol can oxidize first to an aldehyde and then to a carboxylic acid.
2-Pentanol: A five-carbon secondary alcohol with the formula C₅H₁₂O and a hydroxyl group on carbon two. Moving the hydroxyl group from carbon one to carbon two changes the alcohol from primary to secondary.
Solvent: A substance that dissolves another substance to form a solution. 1-Pentanol is used as an organic solvent for materials that are poorly soluble in water.
Pentane: A five-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C₅H₁₂. Replacing a hydrogen in pentane with a hydroxyl group gives 1-pentanol’s carbon skeleton and oxygen.
Pentanal: A five-carbon aldehyde with the molecular formula C₅H₁₀O. Controlled oxidation of 1-pentanol produces pentanal.
3-Pentanol: A five-carbon secondary alcohol with the formula C₅H₁₂O and a hydroxyl group on carbon three. Its central hydroxyl position contrasts with 1-pentanol’s terminal position.
Pentyl acetate: An ester with the formula C₇H₁₄O₂, also called amyl acetate. Esterification of 1-pentanol with acetic acid can produce pentyl acetate.
Primary alcohol: An alcohol whose hydroxyl-bearing carbon is bonded to one other carbon atom. The hydroxyl-bearing terminal carbon makes 1-pentanol a primary alcohol.
Pentanoic acid: A five-carbon carboxylic acid with the molecular formula C₅H₁₀O₂. Further oxidation of 1-pentanol, often through pentanal, can produce pentanoic acid.

Linked from 1 page

1-HexanolCompared with: Removing one methylene unit illustrates how chain length changes alcohol properties.