Physical properties of monohydric alcohols

(a) Character - Monohydric Alcohols are neutral component. These comprise no effect on litmus paper. This is analytical investigation for alcohols.

(b) Physical state - Lower alcohols (upto C₁₂) are colourless alcohol along with characteristic smell and burning taste. The larger members along with more than 12-carbon atoms are colourless and odourless solids.

(c) Polar character - Oxygen (O₂) atom of the - OH group is much more electronegative as compared to both carbon and hydrogen. So the electron density closer to oxygen atom is little much higher. Hydrogen bonding illustrated below