Physical properties of alcohols

Alcohol compounds are affected by hydroxyl groups, there are intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and there are hydrogen bonds between alcohol molecules and water molecules in water. Therefore, their physical properties are quite different from those of the corresponding hydrocarbons. It is mainly manifested in high melting boiling point and certain solubility in water. Generally speaking, the lower alcohols are more water-soluble, and methanol, ethanol and propanol can be miscible with water in any proportion. Alcohols with 4 to 11 carbon atoms are oily liquids, partially soluble in water. Later, as the number of carbon atoms increases, the influence of hydrocarbon groups on molecules becomes greater and greater, so that the physical properties of higher alcohols are closer to the corresponding hydrocarbons. In addition, the lower alcohols have a special smell and spicy taste, while the higher alcohols are odorless and tasteless.