2-Methylpropan-1-ol

A branched primary alcohol whose oxidation retains the carbon skeleton.

Formula
C4H10O
Functional group
Primary alcohols
Molar mass
74.12 g/mol
Also known as
Isobutanol, 2-Methyl-1-propanol, ISOBUTYL ALCOHOL, Isopropylcarbinol, 1-Propanol, 2-methyl-, 1-Hydroxymethylpropane

Overview

A branched primary alcohol whose oxidation retains the carbon skeleton.

The hydroxyl group is on a terminal CH2 group despite branching elsewhere. Oxidation can give 2-methylpropanal and then 2-methylpropanoic acid. Classification depends on the carbon bearing OH, not on whether the molecule has a branched chain.

Identifiers

Formula
C4H10O
Functional group
Primary alcohols
Molar mass
74.12 g/mol
Also known as
Isobutanol, 2-Methyl-1-propanol, ISOBUTYL ALCOHOL, Isopropylcarbinol, 1-Propanol, 2-methyl-, 1-Hydroxymethylpropane
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
CC(C)CO
InChI
InChI=1S/C4H10O/c1-4(2)3-5/h4-5H,3H2,1-2H3
PubChem CID
6560

Properties

Melting Point
-108 °C
Boiling Point
108 °C
Density
0.8018 g/cu cm at 24 °C
Water solubility
In water, 66.5-90.9 g/L at 25 °C

Related compounds

  • Alcohols

    A branched primary alcohol whose oxidation retains the carbon skeleton.

  • Primary alcohols

    A branched primary alcohol whose oxidation retains the carbon skeleton.

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: 2-Methylpropan-1-ol (CID 6560)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Oxidation of alcoholsJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structural interpretation of the recorded molecular structure; no new physical measurement or verified preparative yield is claimed.

  3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): 2-Methylpropan-1-ol — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6560#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 953

  4. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): 2-Methylpropan-1-ol — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6560#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 953

  5. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): 2-Methylpropan-1-ol — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6560#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-392

  6. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): 2-Methylpropan-1-ol — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6560#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Yalkowsky, S.H., He, Yan, Jain, P. Handbook of Aqueous Solubility Data Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 2010, p. 3-392