What differentiates tertiary alcohols from primary and secondary alcohols?

Tertiary alcohols are characterized by the presence of the hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom that is bonded to three other carbon atoms. This structural arrangement differentiates tertiary alcohols from primary and secondary alcohols.

In primary alcohols, the carbon bonded to the hydroxyl group is attached to only one other carbon atom, while in secondary alcohols, the carbon with the hydroxyl group is attached to two other carbon atoms. The distinction in bonding results in different chemical properties and reactivities among these types of alcohols.

For instance, tertiary alcohols tend to undergo elimination reactions more readily than primary or secondary alcohols due to steric hindrance, which is influenced by the number of carbon substituents around the carbon atom bearing the hydroxyl group. Additionally, the structure of tertiary alcohols contributes to their distinct behavior in oxidation reactions, where they are less easily oxidized compared to primary and secondary alcohols. Thus, the accurate identification of tertiary alcohols is based on their bonding configuration and the number of carbon atoms the hydroxyl-bearing carbon is attached to.