You are probably very well versed with the concept and term ‘alcohol’. It is not just what you see people drinking! It is a very common organic compound that finds large-scale practical applications. However, are you aware of the various METHODS for the preparation of alcohols? In this chapter, we will look at the various industrial methods of preparation of alcohols.Suggested VideosArrowArrowArrowArrowIntroduction and Preparation of Trihydric AlcoholElectrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reactions of PhenolsCoordination Complex of Ethers Preparation of AlcoholsThere are various methods and ways to prepare alcohols in industries and laboratories. Let’s learn about these one-by-one below.Preparation of alcohols1) Hydrolysis of Alkyl HalidesThis is a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The method is not a very effective one. This is because it has as olefins as by-products. ion.R-X + KOHaq → R-OH2) Oxymercuration and Demercuration of AlkanesAlkenes react with mercuric ACETATE in presence of H2O and tetrahydrofuran to give alkyl mercury compounds. This is one of the most common types of methods to prepare alcohols.3) Preparation of Alcohols from Grignard ReagentWe can obtain the three types of monohydric alcohols (primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols) by using Grignard reagents and carbonyl compounds. The addition of RMgX on carbonyl compounds, along with hydrolysis gives us alcohols. The Grignard reagent is basically an organometallic compound. Let us look at this reaction in greater detail as it is a very important reaction.When we ALLOW a solution of an alkyl halide in dry ethyl ether, (C2H5)O to stand overturnings of metallic magnesium, we witness a vigorous reaction. We can see that the solution turns cloud and begins to boil. The magnesium metal gradually disappears. The resulting solution is the Grignard reagent.CH3I + Mg \overset{Ether}{\rightarrow} CH3MgIH3CH2Br + Mg \overset{Ether}{\rightarrow} CH3CH2MgBrEthyl bromide Ethylmagnesium bromideThe Grignard reagent has the general formula R MgX, and the general name alkyl magnesium halide.More about Grignard ReagentThe Grignard reagent is highly reactive. It REACTS with NUMEROUS inorganic compounds including water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, and with most kinds of organic compounds. It is interesting to note that an alkane is such a weak acid that Grignard reagent can displace it by compounds that we might ordinarily consider to be very weak acids themselves, or possibly not acids at all.