Alcohols with two hydroxyl groups are referred to as?

Alcohols that contain two hydroxyl (-OH) groups are known as diols. The term "diol" is derived from the prefix "di-", indicating the presence of two of something, combined with "ol", which is a common suffix for alcohols. This classification is important in organic chemistry, as the presence of multiple hydroxyl groups can significantly alter the physical and chemical properties of the compound.

Diols can participate in hydrogen bonding more effectively than alcohols with only one hydroxyl group, leading to increased boiling points and differing solubility characteristics in water and organic solvents. There are variations of diols known as vicinal diols, where the hydroxyl groups are on adjacent carbon atoms, and geminal diols, where they are on the same carbon.

The other terms listed refer to different categories of compounds: monols refer to alcohols with one hydroxyl group, triols have three hydroxyl groups, and glycans refer to carbohydrates or polymers made up of sugar units, rather than a specific type of alcohol. Understanding the classification of alcohols and their structures is fundamental in organic chemistry and biochemistry.