Alcohol

A modified hydrocarbon molecule with an oxygen atom placed between a carbon and hydrogen atom. Ethanol, shown here, is the best known - the one found in alcoholic drinks. Its chemical formula is CH ₃ CH ₂ OH

It is easy to spot an alcohol molecule because every one has a COH group of atoms. This is also easy to remember as it is the middle part of the word alCOHol. Easy, that is, if you can spell alcohol in the first place.

Alcohols are important in the chemical industry because it is easy to turn them into fats, waxes, detergents, plasticizers, emulsifiers, lubricants, emollients, and foaming agents.