ol

IPA/ˈɒl/
IPA/ˈɑːl/

ol — noun

1. A suffix added to the names of chemical substances to show that the molecule con

1.名詞B2
釋義

A suffix added to the names of chemical substances to show that the molecule contains a hydroxyl group — one oxygen atom bonded to one hydrogen atom. The suffix appears in the names of aliphatic alcohols, such as ethanol and methanol, and in the names of aromatic compounds such as phenol and naphthol. Many of these substances are used as solvents, disinfectants, or raw materials in industry.

例句

The teacher explained that methanol and ethanol differ even though both end in -ol.

methanol and ethanol both carry the -ol suffix

A few drops of glycerol keep this skin cream from drying out.

文法句型

[chemical root] + -ol

用法筆記

This suffix always attaches to a chemical root word. For example, "eth-" (meaning two carbon atoms) + "-ane" + "-ol" gives "ethanol". The number after the name (e.g., propan-2-ol) tells you which carbon atom the hydroxyl group is bonded to. The -ol suffix itself is neutral — methanol is toxic while ethanol is drinkable, so the suffix alone does not indicate safety.

常見錯誤

❌Drinking methanol is safe because it ends in -ol like ethanol.
✅Methanol is poisonous and can cause blindness
💡the -ol suffix does not tell you whether a substance is safe to drink.' — The -ol suffix only tells you a hydroxyl group is present, not whether the substance is toxic.
❌Benzene contains -ol so it must be safe to drink.
✅Benzene does not end in -ol and is a known cancer-causing chemical.
💡The -ol suffix means a hydroxyl group is attached to a ring; benzene itself has no -ol ending.