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Alcohols and Polyols

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There are 405 chemical datasheets assigned to this reactive group.

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 about reactivity predictions...

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.

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 generally 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 anhydrides to form acids and esters, generating noticeable heat, and also with oxoacids and carboxylic acids to form esters plus water, but the heat of reaction in the latter case typically is low. 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; 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.

Use the links below to find out how this reactive group interacts with any of the reactive groups in the database.

The predicted hazards and gas byproducts for each reactive group pair will be displayed, as well as documentation and references that were used to make the reactivity predictions.

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