Question

How would you distinguish the following pair of compounds?

n-propyl alcohol and iso-propyl alcohol

Answer 1

Test/Property	n-propyl alcohol	iso-propyl alcohol
Iodoform Test	n-Propyl alcohol does not give the iodoform test.	iso-Propyl alcohol gives a positive iodoform test with yellow precipitate.
Structure Type	It is a primary alcohol (–OH group attached to a primary carbon).	It is a secondary alcohol (–OH group attached to a secondary carbon).
Molecular Structure	Has a straight chain of three carbon atoms.	Has a branched structure with a central carbon bonded to two methyl groups.
Boiling Point	Slightly higher boiling point due to linear structure.	Slightly lower boiling point due to branching.
Oxidation Product	On oxidation, forms propanoic acid.	On oxidation, forms acetone (a ketone).