Action with PCl₅, PX₃, NH₃, Zn, Na benzene diazonium chloride and phthalic anhydride

In alcohols and phenols, -OH group is the functional group.

Reactions of alcohols are classified into three types.

1) Reactions involving cleavage of -OH bond.

Reaction with metals

Alcohols and phenols react with metals such as sodium, potassium and aluminium to yield hydrogen and   give alkoxides.

In addition to this, phenols react with aqueous sodium hydroxide to form sodium phenoxides.