How Do You Spell BENZILIC ALCOHOL?

1. Benzilic alcohol is an organic compound that belongs to the class of alcohols. It is chemically known as 2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetic acid or diphenylglycolic acid. The molecular formula of benzilic alcohol is C14H12O3.

   Benzilic alcohol is characterized by its crystal-like appearance and white color with a slight odor. It is sparingly soluble in water but readily dissolves in organic solvents such as ethanol and ether.

   This compound has various applications in the field of organic chemistry. One of its notable uses is as a reactant in the benzilic acid rearrangement. This rearrangement involves the conversion of benzil (diphenyl ketone) to benzilic acid (2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetic acid) by treatment with a suitable base. Benzilic acid, in turn, can be reduced to benzilic alcohol.

   In addition to its role as a chemical reagent, benzilic alcohol also has pharmaceutical applications. It has been used as an antiseptic agent and a precursor for the synthesis of certain medications.

   Overall, benzilic alcohol is an important compound in organic chemistry due to its versatility and involvement in various chemical and pharmaceutical processes.

Common Misspellings for BENZILIC ALCOHOL

The word "benzilic alcohol" has a fairly straightforward etymology:

1. Benzil: The term "benzil" refers to a compound derived from benzoin, which is a resin obtained from certain trees. It was first isolated and described in 1832 by Justus von Liebig, a German chemist. The name "benzil" is derived from the word "benzoin".

2. -ic: The suffix "-ic" is commonly used in chemistry to denote that a certain compound is an acid or derivative of an acid. In the case of benzil, the compound itself is not an acid, but it can undergo certain reactions to form an acid derivative.

3. Alcohol: The term "alcohol" refers to a class of organic compounds characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group.

Plural form of BENZILIC ALCOHOL is BENZILIC ALCOHOLS