Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids - Physical Data

Molweight, melting and boiling point, density, pKa-values, as well as number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in molecules are given for 150 different alcohols and acids.

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Below the table, examples of molecule structures for the different classes of alcohols and acids are given, together with a definition of the different classes of organic compounds.

For figures showing trends for the different classes with increasing chain lengths, as well as molecular structures, see also

For more tabulated values, see Physical data for hydrocarbons, Physical data for organic sulfur compounds and Physical data for organic nitrogen compounds

For full table - rotate the screen!

Class of compound	IUPAC name	Common name	#C	#H	#O	Molweight g/mol	Melting point °C	Boiling point °C	Density @20°C* g/ml	pKa(1)	pKa(2)
1-alkanol	Methanol	Methyl alcohol	1	4	1	32.04	-98	65	0.791	15.5
1-alkanol	Ethanol	Ethyl alcohol	2	6	1	46.07	-114	78	0.789	15.5
1-alkanol	1-Propanol	Propyl alcohol	3	8	1	60.09	-124	97	0.804	16.1
1-alkanol	1-Butanol	Butyl alcohol	4	10	1	74.12	-89	118	0.810	16.1
1-alkanol	1-Pentanol	Amyl alcohol	5	12	1	88.15	-78	138	0.814
1-alkanol	1-Hexanol	Caproyl alcohol	6	14	1	102.17	-46	157	0.814
1-alkanol	1-Heptanol	Heptyl alcohol	7	16	1	116.198	-33	178	0.822
1-alkanol	1-Octanol	Capryl alcohol	8	18	1	130.22	-15	195	0.829
1-alkanol	1-Nonanol	Nonyl alcohol	9	20	1	144.25	-5	214	0.828
1-alkanol	1-Decanol	Capric alcohol	10	22	1	158.276	7	229	0.830
1-alkanol	1-Undecanol	Undecyl alcohol	11	24	1	172.30	1	246	0.830
1-alkanol	1-Dodecanol	Lauryl alcohol	12	26	1	186.33	24	264	0.833
1-alkanol	1-Tridecanol		13	28	1	200.35	31	287	0.822³¹
1-alkanol	1-Tetradecanol	Tetra decylalcohol	14	30	1	214.38	38	296	0.824³⁸
1-alkanol	1-Pentadecanol		15	32	1	228.41	44	318	0.835²⁵
1-alkanol	1-Docosanol		22	46	1	326.59	71

2-alkanol	2-Propanol	Isopropyl alcohol, isopropanol	3	8	1	60.09	-88	82	0.785	17.2
2-alkanol	2-Butanol	sec-Butyl alcohol	4	10	1	74.12	-88	99	0.806	17.6
2-alkanol	2-Pentanol	sec-Amyl alcohol	5	12	1	88.15	-73	119	0.809	17.8
2-alkanol	2-Hexanol		6	14	1	102.17	-23	138	0.816
2-alkanol	2-Heptanol		7	16	1	116.20		159	0.817
2-alkanol	2-Octanol	sec-Caprylic alcohol	8	18	1	130.22	-31.6	179	0.819
2-alkanol	2-Nonanol		9	20	1	144.25	-35	194	0.83
2-alkanol	2-Decanol		10	22	1	158.28	-5	212	0.825
2-alkanol	2-Undecanol		11	24	1	172.30	0	231	0.825
2-alkanol	2-Dodecanol		12	26	1	186.33	19	249	0.829

3-alkanol	3-Pentanol	Diethyl carbinol	5	12	1	88.15	-73	115	0.820	18.2
3-alkanol	3-Hexanol		6	14	1	102.17	-57	143	0.818
3-alkanol	3-Heptanol	Ethylbutylcarbinol	7	16	1	116.20	-70	163	0.823
3-alkanol	3-Octanol		8	18	1	130.22	-45	175	0.826
3-alkanol	3-Nonanol		9	20	1	144.25	22	193	0.825
3-alkanol	3-Decanol		10	22	1	158.28	-5	212	0.827
3-alkanol	3-Undecanol		11	24	1	172.30		230	0.088
3-alkanol	3-Dodecanol		12	26	1	186.33	25	246	0.829

4-alkanol	4-Heptanol	Dipropylcarbinol	7	16	1	116.12	-41	161	0.818
4-alkanol	4-Octanol		8	18	1	130.22	-41	176	0.819
4-alkanol	4-Nonanol		9	20	1	144.25	-7	193	0.828
4-alkanol	4-Decanol		10	22	1	158.28	-11	214	0.826

Branched alcohol	2-Methyl-2-propanol		4	10	1	74.12	25.7	83	0.789
Branched alcohol	2-Methyl-1-propanol	Isobutanol, isobutyl alcohol	4	10	1	74.12		108	0.802
Branched alcohol	2-Methyl-2-butanol		5	12	1	88.15	-8	102	0.810
Branched alcohol	3-Methyl-2-butanol		5	12	1	88.15		114	0.818
Branched alcohol	2-Methyl-1-butanol		5	12	1	88.15		129	0.818
Branched alcohol	3-Methyl-1-butanol		5	12	1	88.15	-117	131	0.810

Cycloalcohol	Cyclohexanol		6	12	1	100.16	25	161	0.962

Phenols	Phenol	Hydroxybenzene	6	6	1	94.11	41	181	1.055⁴⁵	9.98
Phenols	2-Methylphenol	o-Cresol, 2-methylhydroxybenzene	7	8	1	108.13	31	191	1.033³⁵	10.29
Phenols	4-Methylphenol	p-Cresol, 4-methylhydroxybenzene	7	8	1	108.13	35	202	1.019⁴⁰	10.26
Phenols	3-Methylphenol	m-Cresol, 3-methylhydroxybenzene	7	8	1	108.13	12	202	1.034	10.09
Phenols	2-Methoxyphenol	Guaiacol	7	8	2	124.13	28	204	1.129²¹	9.98
Phenols	3-Methoxyphenol	Resorcinol, monomethyl ether	7	8	2	124.13	-18	244	1.131²⁵	9.65
Phenols	4-Methoxyphenol		7	8	2	124.13	55	253		10.21
Phenols	2-Ethylphenol	2-Ethylhydroxybenzene	8	10	1	122.16	-3	205	1.017	10.2
Phenols	4-Ethylphenol	4-Ethylhydroxybenzene	8	10	1	122.16	45	218	1.050²⁵	10
Phenols	3-Ethylphenol	3- Ethylhydroxybenzene	8	10	1	122.16	-4	218	1.028	9.9
Phenols	2-Propylphenol	o-Propylphenol	9	12	1	136.19	7	223	1.015	10.47
Phenols	4-Propylphenol	p-Propylphenol	9	12	1	136.19	22	232	1.009	10.34

Diol	1,2-Ethanediol	Ethylene glycol	2	6	2	62.07	-14	198	1.114
Diol	1,2-Benzenediol	Catechol, pyrocatechol	6	6	2	110.11	102	245	1.344²⁵	9.45	12.8
Diol	1,3-Benzenediol	Resorcinol	6	6	2	110.11	110	277	1.278	9.2	11.3
Diol	1,4-Benzenediol	Hydroquinone, ,4-Dihydroxybenzene	6	6	2	110.11	172	285		10.9	11.4
Diol	4-Methyl-1,2-benzenediol	4-Methylcatechol	7	8	2	124.13	68	251	1.129²⁵	9.55

Triol	1,3,5-Benzenetriol	Phloroglucinol, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene	6	6	3	126.11	216	sub	1.46²⁵	8.45

Alkanoic acid	Formic acid	Methanoic acid	1	2	2	46.03	8	101	1.22	3.74
Alkanoic acid	Acetic acid	Ethanoic acid	2	4	2	60.05	17	118	1.048	4.76
Alkanoic acid	Propanoic acid	Propionic acid	3	6	2	74.08	-21	142	0.991	4.87
Alkanoic acid	Butanoic acid	Butyric acid	4	8	2	88.10	-5	164	0.956	4.82
Alkanoic acid	Pentanoic acid	Valeric acid	5	10	2	102.13	-34	186	0.937	4.86
Alkanoic acid	Hexanoic acid	Caproic acid	6	12	2	116.16	-4	202	0.924	4.87
Alkanoic acid	Heptanoic acid	Enanthic acid	7	14	2	130.18	-7	222	0.916	4.89
Alkanoic acid	Octanoic acid	Caprylic acid	8	16	2	144.21	17	240	0.911	4.89
Alkanoic acid	Nonanoic acid	Pelargonic acid	9	18	2	158.23	12	256	0.905	4.96
Alkanoic acid	Dodecanoic acid	Lauric acid	12	24	2	200.31	44	296	0.868⁵⁰
Alkanoic acid	Decanoic acid	Capric acid	13	26	2	214.34	31	270	0.886⁴⁰
Alkanoic acid	Tridecanoic acid	Tridecylic acid	14	28	2	228.36	42	308	0.846⁸⁰
Alkanoic acid	Undecanoic acid		15	30	2	242.39	28.5	280	0.891
Alkanoic acid	Tetradecanoic acid	Myristic acid	16	32	2	256.42	54	350**	0.862⁵⁴
Alkanoic acid	Pentacanoic acid	Pentadecylic acid	17	34	2	270.44	52	360**	0.842⁸⁰
Alkanoic acid	Hexadecanoic acid	Palmitic acid	16	32	2	256.42	63	351	0.853⁶²
Alkanoic acid	Octadecanoic acid	Stearic acid	18	36	2	284.48	69	^d361	0.941
Alkanoic acid	Docosanoic acid	Behenic acid	22	44	2	340.57	81	^>400**	0.822⁹⁰

Branched alkanoic acid	2-Methylpropanoic acid	Isobutyric acid	4	8	2	88.104	-46	155	0.945	4.84
Branched alkanoic acid	2-Methylbutanoic acid		5	10	2	102.13	<-80	177	0.934	4.8
Branched alkanoic acid	3-Methylbutanoic acid	Isovaleric acid	5	10	2	102.13	-30	176	0.925	4.77
Branched alkanoic acid	2,2-Dimethylpropanoic acid	Trimethylacetic acid	5	10	2	102.13	35	164	0.905⁵⁰	4.78
Branched alkanoic acid	2-Methylpentanoic acid		6	12	2	116.16		195	0.923
Branched alkanoic acid	3-Methylpentanoic acid	3-Methylvaleric acid	6	12	2	116.16	-42	197	0.926
Branched alkanoic acid	4-Methylpentanoic acid	4-Methylvaleric acid, Isocaproic acid	6	12	2	116.16	-33	200	0.923	4.84
Branched alkanoic acid	2-Methylhexanoic acid		7	14	2	130.18		209	0.92
Branched alkanoic acid	4-Methylhexanoic acid		7	14	2	130.18		110¹⁰	0.921
Branched alkanoic acid	2-Propylpentanoic acid	Valproic acid	8	16	2	144.21		223	0.906	4.6

Benzoic acids	Benzoic acid	Benzenecarboxylic acid	7	6	2	122.12	122	249	1.266¹⁵	4.2
Benzoic acids	2-Methyl-benzoic acid	o-Toluic acid	8	8	2	136.14	107	258	1.062¹¹⁵	3.91
Benzoic acids	3-Methyl-benzoic acid	m-Toluic acid	8	8	2	136.14	111		1.054¹¹²	4.25
Benzoic acids	4-Methyl-benzoic acid	p-Toluic acid	8	8	2	136.14	182	275		4.37
Benzoic acids	2-Phenylbenzoic acid		13	10	2	198.21	112	344		3.46
Benzoic acids	4-Phenylbenzoic acid		13	10	2		210	s

Cinnamic acid	trans-o-Methylcinnamic acid		10	10	2	162.18	175			4.5
Cinnamic acid	trans-p-Methylcinnamic acid		10	10	2		199			4.56

Phenyl-alkanoic acid	Phenylethanoic acid	α-Tolylic acid, Benzeneacetic	8	8	2	136.14	77	266	1.228⁶	4.31
Phenyl-alkanoic acid	2-Phenylbutyric acid	a-Ethyl-a-toluic acid	10	12	2	47.5				4.66

Hydroxy acids	Hydroxyethanoic acid	Glycolic acid	2	4	3	76.05	80	d		3.88
Hydroxy acids	Hydroxyethanoic acid	Glycolic acid	2	4	3	76.05	80	d		3.88
Hydroxy acids	2-Hydroxy-benzoic acid	Salicylic acid	7	6	3	138.12	159		1.443	2.97	13.59
Hydroxy acids	3-Hydroxy-benzoic acid		7	6	3	138.12	202			4.8	9.9
Hydroxy acids	4-Hydroxy-benzoic acid		7	6	3	138.12	215			4.58	9.4

Alkanedioic acid	Ethanedioic acid	Oxalic acid	2	2	4	90.04	d190	s157	1.9¹⁷	1.25	4.29
Alkanedioic acid	Propanedioic acid	Malonic acid	3	4	4	104.06	136	d140	1.619¹⁶	2.85	5.69
Alkanedioic acid	Butanedioic acid	Succinic acid	4	6	4	118.09	185	d235	1.572²⁵	4.21	5.64
Alkanedioic acid	Pentanedioic acid	Glutaric acid	5	8	4	132.11	96	302**		3.22	4.82
Alkanedioic acid	Hexanedioic acid	Adipic acid	6	10	4	146.14	153	265**		4.34	5.41
Alkanedioic acid	Heptanedioic acid	Pimelic acid	7	12	4	160.17	104	212**		4.71	5.58
Alkanedioic acid	Octanedioic acid	Suberic acid	8	14	4	174.19	142	230**		4.52	5.498
Alkanedioic acid	Nonanedioic acid	Azelaic acid	9	16	4	188.29	110	286**		4.53	5.33
Alkanedioic acid	Decanedioic acid	Sebacic acid	10	18	4	202.24	131	374**	1.271	4.59	5.59
Alkanedioic acid	Undecanedioic acid	1,9-Nonanedicarboxylic acid	11	20	4	216.27	109			4.65
Alkanedioic acid	Dodecanedioic acid	Decane-1,10-dicarboxylic acid	12	22	4	230.30	128	245**		4.65
Alkanedioic acid	Tridecanedioic acid	Brassylic acid	13	24	4	244.32	113			4.65

Alkenedioic acids	cis-Butenedioic acid	Maleic	4	4	4	116.07	139	d	1.59²⁵	1.92	6.22
Alkenedioic acids	trans-Butenedioic acid	Fumaric	4	4	4	116.07	s300		1.635	3.02	4.39
Alkenedioic acids	2-Octenedioic acid		8	12	4	172.18				4.15

Branched dioic acids	2-Methylpropanedioic acid	Methylmalonic acid	4	6	4	118.09	129		1.455	3.07	5.76
Branched dioic acids	3-Methylpentanedioic acid	3-Methylglutaric acid	6	10	4	146.14	83			4.24

Aromatic dioic acids	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid	o-Phthalic acid	8	6	4	166.13	d210			4.42	5.41
Aromatic dioic acids	2,6-Naphthalenedicarboxylic acid		12	8	4	216.18	>300
Aromatic dioic acids	1,4-Naphthalenedicarboxylic acid		12	8	4	216.18	>301
Aromatic dioic acids	Biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid		14	10	4	242.22	>300
* Note that some of the substances have a melting point above 20°C, and that the given densities then are given for solid state. Superscript notations give measurement temperature(in °C) different from 20°C.
** Boiling point is estimated from low pressure measurements. It is not known whether the substance is chemically stable at the given1 atm boiling temperature.
s = sublimates d = decomposes

Molecular structure alcohol acid

Definitions of organic compounds

Hydrocarbon: An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.

Main groups of hydrocarbons:

Alkane: An acyclic saturated hydrocarbon, with the general formula C_nH_2n+2. Also called paraffin.

Alkene: An unsaturated hydrocarbon that contains at least one carbon–carbon double bond, with the general formula C_nH_2n. Also called olefine.

Cycloalkane: A one-ring (monocyclic) saturated hydrocarbon, with the general formula C_nH_2n. Also called naphthene.

Aromatic hydrocarbon: A cyclic (ring-shaped), planar (flat) molecule with a ring of resonance bonds that exhibits more stability than other geometric or connective arrangements with the same set of atoms. The simplest of the aromatics have 6 carbon atoms and contains 3 double bounds. A one ring aromatic without any substituents is called benzene, with the formula C₆H₆.

Some under-groups of hydrocarbons given in this document:

Alkyl: An alkane substituent missing one hydrogen, with general formula C_nH_2n+1

Branched alkyl: An alkyl with one or several side chains of carbon atoms connected to the main carbon atom chain.

Phenyl: An phenyl group is a benzene substituent missing one hydrogen, with general formula C6H5.

Classes of alcohols:

Alcohol: an organic compound in which the hydroxyl functional group (–OH) is bound to a saturated carbon atom

Alkanol: An alcohol where the hydroxyl group is bound to an alkyl. If the hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom at the end of the alkyl, it is a 1-alkanol, if it is bound to the second carbon, it is a 2-alkanol, etc.

Branched alcohol: An alcohol where the hydroxyl group is bound to a branched alkyl.

Cyclo alcohol: An alcohol where the hydroxyl group is bound to a cycloalkane.

Phenol: An alcohol where the hydroxyl group is bound to a phenyl group, with the formula C6H5OH.

Phenols: A group of compounds consisting of a phenol molecule with one or more substiuents.

Diol: An organic compound containing two hydroxyl groups, R(-OH)₂.

Triol: An organic compound containing three hydroxyl groups, R(-OH)₃.

Classes of carboxylic acids:

Carboxylic acid: an organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (C(=O)OH). The general formula of a carboxylic acid is R–COOH, with R referring to the rest of the molecule.

Alkanoic acid: A carboxylic acid where the R is an alkyl.

Branched alkanoic acid: A carboxylic acid where the R is a branched alkyl.

Phenyl-alkanoic acid: An alkanoic acid bound to a phenyl.

Benzoic acid: A carboxylic acid where the acid group is substituted to one carbon of a benzene ring.

Hydroxy acid: A carboxylic acid containing an additional hydroxyl group.

Dioic acid: A carboxylic acid with two acid groups, R(-COOH)₂