Alcohol Functional Group Chemical Structure
SKU: 68845NV
Chemistry and biology students studying hydroxyl group structures in sugars, amino acids, & lipids can build, visualize, and teach the alcohol functional group with this Orbit molecular model set.
Alcohols are organic molecules containing a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to a carbon atom. In chemistry, they are key intermediates in synthesis and solvents in reactions. In biology, they occur naturally in sugars, amino acids, and lipids, and play roles in metabolism and signalling.
The structural formula of the hydroxy functional group, in ethanol for example, is C2H5OH compared to its molecular formula C2H6HO. The 68845NV Foundation model set includes six red 2 prong 110 degree oxygen atoms for depicting the OH hydroxyl. When combined with the set's 18 hydrogens & 16 sp3 carbons, you can build hundreds of alcohol structures to help learn IUPAC alcohol naming conventions as they relate to their parent alkanes.
What Different Students Need to Know About the Alcohol Functional Group
| Compound | Chemistry Focus | Biology / Medicine / Nursing Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Methanol | Industrial solvent; oxidation to formaldehyde and formic acid; acid-base behavior of hydroxyl group. | Toxicity through formic acid accumulation; treatment of poisoning; relevance to forensic medicine. |
| Ethanol | Fermentation chemistry; oxidation to acetaldehyde; azeotrope formation; intermolecular hydrogen bonding. | Role in human metabolism; effects on CNS; enzymatic breakdown by alcohol dehydrogenase; clinical use as antidote for methanol poisoning. |
| Glycerol | Polyol with three hydroxyl groups; backbone for triglycerides; dehydration reactions to form acrolein. | Component of fats and oils; osmotic agent in medicine; used in IV solutions and skincare. |
| Cholesterol | Single hydroxyl group on a sterol ring system; amphipathic molecule; steroid biosynthesis precursor. | Role in cell membrane structure; precursor to steroid hormones and vitamin D; implications in cardiovascular health. |
| Serine | Amino acid with side-chain hydroxyl group; involvement in enzyme catalysis; phosphorylation site. | Role in protein synthesis, enzyme regulation, and neurotransmission; metabolic precursor in biosynthetic pathways. |
Important Learning Outcomes:
- Chemistry Majors Should Be Able to:
Master IUPAC rules for naming primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols.
Understand oxidation reactions of alcohols and how structure determines the oxidation product (aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid).
Predict acid-base behavior and hydrogen bonding patterns.
Apply spectroscopy (IR: ~3300 cm?¹ broad peak) for identification.
Explore reaction mechanisms such as dehydration to alkenes and substitution to alkyl halides.
- Biology, Nursing, Premed Majors Should Be Able to
Recognize the metabolic pathways involving ethanol, methanol, and glycerol.
Understand physiological roles of biologically important alcohols (e.g., cholesterol, serine).
Relate alcohol structure to solubility and membrane permeability.
Identify toxic alcohols and their treatments.
Connect biochemical transformations of alcohols to disease processes and pharmacology.
Key Features & Benefits of the 68845NV Orbit Molecular Model Set for Teaching Alcohols
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Accurate tetrahedral geometry around the oxygen atom | Helps students visualize hydrogen bonding and its impact on boiling points and solubility. |
| Color-coded atoms | Clarifies bonding differences between oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen in the hydroxyl group. |
| Modular components | Allows easy transformation into aldehydes, ketones, or ethers for functional group comparisons. |
| Durable Orbit connectors | Ensures long-term use for repeated demonstrations in lectures or labs. |
| Cross-disciplinary relevance | Links chemical structure to biological molecules like sugars, amino acids, and glycerol. |
You can use this model set to better understand the difference between primary, secondary & tertiary alcohol structures as well as those that are allylic or benzylic. Examples of these are: 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, 3-penten-2-ol,1-phenylethanol respectively.
Indigo Instruments has held inventory of genuine Cochranes of Oxford (Orbit) atoms & bonds for 30+ years. These parts are compatible with every molecular model set we have sold since day 1. This quality may appear expensive but no parts support from other vendors costs even more.
