Is propanol a primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohol?

Propanol is classified as a primary alcohol. This classification is based on the number of carbon atoms connected to the carbon that holds the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group. In propanol, the structure can be represented as CH3-CH2-CH2-OH, where the carbon holding the hydroxyl group (the terminal carbon) is connected to only one other carbon atom.

In organic nomenclature, primary alcohols are characterized by having the hydroxyl group attached to a carbon that is itself only connected to one additional carbon. This structure makes propanol's terminal carbon a primary carbon, confirming that propanol is indeed a primary alcohol.

Understanding the classification of alcohols is essential for recognizing their reactivity and properties in organic chemistry.