C4H9OH BUTYL

ALCOHOLS  . Four isomeric alcohols of this formula are known; two of these are primary., one secondary, and one tertiary (see ALCOHOLS) . Normal butyl alcohol, CH3•(CH2)2•CH2OH, is a colourless liquid, boiling at 116.8°, and formed by reducing normal butyl aldehyde with sodium, or by a peculiar fermentation of glycerin, brought about by a schizomycete . Isobutyl alcohol, (CH3)2CH•CH2OH, the butyl alcohol of fermentation, is a primary alcohol derived from isobutane . It may be prepared by the general methods, and occurs in fusel oil, especially in potato spirit . It is a liquid, smelling like fusel oil and boiling at Io8.4° C . Methyl ethyl carbinol, CH3•C2H5•CHOH, is the secondary alcohol derived from n-butane . It is a strongly smelling liquid, boiling at 990 . Trimethyl carbinol or tertiary butyl alcohol, (CH3)1.COH, is the simplest tertiary alcohol, and was obtained by A . Butlerow in 1864 by acting with zinc methyl on acetyl chloride (see ALCOHOLS) . It forms rhombic prisms or plates which melt at 25° and boil at 83°, and has a spiritous smell, resembling that of camphor .