Alcohol, Ether, and Phenols are the three functional groups in organic chemistry that contain or has the

presence
of carbon and oxygen bond. Alcohol, an organic compound in which hydroxyl functional groups (-OH) attached to a
carbon atom of an alkyl group. Alcohol is considered as an organic derivative of water (H2O) in which one of the
hydrogen atoms has been replace by an alkyl group, typically represented by R in organic structures. The number
of other substituent groups (R) on carbon atom make the alcohol a primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohol,
according to which carbon of alkyl group is bonded to the hydroxyl group. In a primary alcohol, the carbon which
carries the -OH group is only attached to one alkyl group. In a secondary alcohol, the carbon with the -OH group is
joined directly to two alkyl groups, which can be the same or different. And a tertiary alcohol is attached directly to
three alkyl groups, which can be any combination of the same or different (1).

Phenols is also known as benzenol or carbolic acid. The chemical formula of this organic compound is C6H6O. It
consists of hydroxyl group and a phenyl group attached to each other. Phenols are not as acidic as carboxylic acids,
but they are much more acidic that aliphatic alcohols. Phenols are like alcohol but form stronger hydrogen bonds,
so they dissolve more readily in water and boil at higher temperatures (2). Ethers are class of organic compound in
which the oxygen atom is joined to two alkyl or aryl groups to form an ether group. Ethers have the general
chemical formula ROR’, in which R and R’ represent the hydrocarbons. Based on the substituent group attached to
its oxygen atom, ether can be divided into two general groups. Symmetrical and asymmetrical ethers. Symmetrical
ethers are where two identical groups are attached to the oxygen atom while asymmetrical ethers are two
different group attached to the oxygen atom (3).

Various of tests for alcohol: Water solubility test, Lucas test, Iodoform test, and Chromic acid Oxidation. The
solubility of alcohol in water is governed by the hydroxyl group present. The hydroxyl group in alcohol is involved
in the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Thus, hydrogen bonds are formed between water and
alcohol molecules which make alcohol soluble in water. Secondary alcohols, ketones and acetaldehyde shows a
positive iodoform test. A yellow precipitate of iodoform is formed when the given compound is heated with
sodium compound is heated with sodium hydroxide solution and iodine. Lucas test in alcohol will differentiate
whether it is primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols based on reactivity with Lucas reagent. This reagent forms a
cloud-like appearance on reacting with alcohols. Tertiary alcohols react immediately; secondary alcohols react
slowly while in primary alcohols has no reaction. Alcohols are soluble in Lucas reagent (4). Chromic acid test only
works on primary and secondary alcohols. It can be used to distinguish between types of alcohol. Primary alcohols
are oxidized to carboxylic acids; secondary alcohols are oxidized to ketones, while tertiary are not oxidized (5).

Alcohols belonging in different classifications of alcohols belonging in different classifications of alcohol will react
differently with reagents of each test according to their physical and chemical structure.

(1) https://www.britannica.com/science/alcohol
(2) https://www.britannica.com/science/phenol
(3) https://byjus.com/jee/ethers/
(4) https://www.embibe.com/exams/test-for-alcohols/
(5) https://chempedia.info/info/alcohol_chromic_acid_test/