Question

Small chain alcohols have a warning label indicating that they are flammable, but what is mean by "small"? How many cabon atoms in a carbon chain is considered to be small? Would 1-decanol be considered as small chain alcohol?
Thank you!

Answer 1

Usually small is up to about five carbons in the chain. Butanol definitely. Pentanol usually. Hexanol, perhaps. Heptanol, no.

Answer 2

Alright, thank you!

Answer 3

The rule in most texts is 5-6 carbons in a chain.