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Which alcohols become solids at room temperature?
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alcohol
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While most common alcohols are colorless liquids at room temperature, there are specific exceptions that exist as solids. Generally, many alcohols containing more than 12 carbon atoms are solids at room temperature, as are some highly branched alcohols.1
Based on the physical properties of selected alcohols, specific examples of those that are solids at room temperature (having a melting point at or above approximately 25 °C) include:
- t-butyl alcohol (2-methyl-2-propanol): 25 °C1
- cyclohexanol: 25 °C1
- neopentyl alcohol (2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol): 52 °C1
- diphenylmethanol: 69 °C1
- triphenylmethanol: 162 °C1
These compounds demonstrate how molecular structure and size influence the physical state of alcohols at standard conditions.1