Main Difference
The main difference between Alcohol and Menthol is that the Alcohol is a any organic compound in which the hydroxyl functional group (–OH) is bound to a saturated carbon atom and Menthol is a chemical compound.
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which the hydroxyl functional group (–OH) is bound to a carbon. The term alcohol originally referred to the primary alcohol ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is used as a drug and is the main alcohol present in alcoholic beverages. An important class of alcohols, of which methanol and ethanol are the simplest members, includes all compounds for which the general formula is CnH2n+1OH. It is these simple monoalcohols that are the subject of this article.
The suffix -ol appears in the IUPAC chemical name of all substances where the hydroxyl group is the functional group with the highest priority. When a higher priority group is present in the compound, the prefix hydroxy- is used in its IUPAC name. The suffix -ol in non-IUPAC names (such as paracetamol or cholesterol) also typically indicates that the substance is an alcohol. However, many substances that contain hydroxyl functional groups (particularly sugars, such as glucose and sucrose) have names which include neither the suffix -ol, nor the prefix hydroxy-.
Menthol
Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above.
The main form of menthol occurring in nature is (−)-menthol, which is assigned the (1R,2S,5R) configuration. Menthol has local anesthetic and counterirritant qualities, and it is widely used to relieve minor throat irritation. Menthol also acts as a weak kappa opioid receptor agonist.
Alcohol (noun)
Any of a class of organic compounds (such as ethanol) containing a hydroxyl functional group (-OH).
Alcohol (noun)
Ethanol.
Alcohol (noun)
Beverages containing ethanol, collectively.
Alcohol (noun)
Any very fine powder.
Menthol (noun)
a cyclic monoterpene alcohol; the major component of the essential oil of peppermint; used in pharmaceutical preparations as an antitussive and antipruritic agent, as a nasal decongestant, and in menthol cigarettes
Menthol (noun)
A menthol cigarette.
Alcohol (noun)
a colourless volatile flammable liquid which is produced by the natural fermentation of sugars and is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel
“the use of petrol containing alcohol”
“it is an offence to drive if you have more than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood”
Alcohol (noun)
drink containing alcohol
“he has not taken alcohol in twenty-five years”
Alcohol (noun)
any organic compound whose molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon atom
“unpleasant stuff like formaldehyde is produced as alcohols burn”
“polyvinyl alcohol”
Menthol (noun)
a crystalline alcohol with a minty taste and odour, found in peppermint and other natural oils. It is used as a flavouring and in decongestants and analgesics.