Question

An example for a polyhydric alcohol is _______.
A. methyl alcohol
B. neopentyl alcohol
C. sec butyl alcohol
D. mannitol

Answer 1

Hint: In order to this question, to know the correct example for a polyhydric alcohol, we should go through the properties of the polyhydric alcohol and the given options. And then compare them with the properties. We will discuss more about polyhydric and monohydric alcohol.

Complete step by step answer:
Mannitol is Poly-hydric alcohol, because it has a $ 6 - OH $ group. Rest all are monohydric alcohol because they contain a single hydroxyl group.
Polyhydric alcohols in which the hydroxyl groups are situated on different carbons are relatively stable, and, as we might expect for substances with multiple polar groups, they have high boiling points and considerable water solubility, but low solubility in nonpolar solvents.
Whereas other given options are monohydric alcohol, is an organic compound with one alcohol functional group. You can identify by alcohol by looking for the alcohol functional group, which is an oxygen and a hydrogen atom or a $ - OH{\text{ }} $ group.
Hence, the correct option is (D).

Note:
Polyhydric alcohols are usually prepared commercially by the reduction of aldoses and ketoses. They are used in the manufacture of polymers (pentaerythritol and xylitol) and explosives, and also as sugar substitutes for diabetics (sorbitol and xylitol).