Reactive Group Datasheet

Alcohols and Polyols

What are reactive groups?

Reactive groups are categories of chemicals that typically react in similar ways because they are similar in their chemical structure. Each substance with a chemical datasheet has been assigned to one or more reactive groups, and CAMEO Chemicals uses the reactive group assignments to make its reactivity predictions. More Info...

If you can't find a chemical in the database--but you know what reactive group it belongs in--you can add the reactive group to MyChemicals instead in order to see the reactivity predictions.

There are 402 chemical datasheets assigned to this reactive group.

Description

Flammability

Many alcohols are highly flammable (with flash points below 100 degrees F). Especially dangerous are methanol and ethyl alcohol, because of their wide flammability limits. Polyols are generally combustible. Their general low volatility means that they are poorly flammable.

Reactivity

Flammable and/or toxic gases are generated by the combination of these materials with alkali metals, nitrides, and strong reducing agents. They react with oxoacids and carboxylic acids to form esters plus water. Oxidizing agents convert them to aldehydes or ketones. They exhibit both weak acid and weak base behavior. They may initiate the polymerization of isocyanates and epoxides.

Toxicity

Alcohols and polyols vary widely in toxicity. Among the most toxic are methyl and allyl alcohol, which act as nervous system depressants.

Other Characteristics

These materials are organic compounds containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups linked to hydrocarbon groups. Alcohols may have straight-chain, branched-chain or ring structures. Polyols contain two or more hydroxyl groups; glycols (diols) contain exactly two hydroxyl groups, each attached to a different carbon atom.

Examples

Ethyl alcohol, methanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, hexanol, allyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, cyclopentanol, glycerol, isopropyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol.

Reactivity Documentation

Click on the links below to see how this reactive group is predicted to react when it is mixed with one of the 47 reactive groups. A variety of documentation about that reactive group pair will be displayed, including predicted hazards, predicted gas byproducts, and background materials and references used to make the predictions.

Mix Alcohols and Polyols with:

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Alcohols and Polyols

What are reactive groups?

Description

Reactivity Documentation