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secondary butyl alcohol
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secondary butyl alcohol

chemical compound
Also known as: 2-butanol, sec-butyl alcohol
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Quick Summary

Secondary (sec-) butyl alcohol is one of four organic compounds with the molecular formula C4H9OH. It is characterized by a hydroxyl group (>CHOH) attached to a carbon atom that is bonded to one hydrogen atom and two other carbon atoms. This structure allows it to be oxidized into a ketone.1

While n-butyl alcohol is widely used as a solvent and in brake fluids, sec-butyl alcohol has more limited use as a solvent and in esters. A significant application of sec-butyl alcohol is its oxidation to methyl ethyl ketone (2-butanone), a crucial solvent for manufacturing plastics, fabrics, and explosives. sec-Butyl alcohol is produced from butene through a reaction with sulfuric acid, followed by hydrolysis. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature with a boiling point of 100 °C and is moderately soluble in water.23

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. butyl alcohol
  2. alcohol: Top Questions
  3. secondary alcohol
  4. alcohol - Physical properties of alcohols

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