Izinhlanganisela zotshwala ziyizinhlanganisela eziphilayo eziqukethe iqembu le-hydroxyl (-OH), elixhunywe ku-athomu yekhabhoni.Ngokuvamile zisetshenziswa njengezincibilikisi, izibulala-magciwane, nezinto zokubasa.Ezinye izibonelo zezinhlanganisela zotshwala i-ethanol (etholakala ophuzweni oludakayo), i-methanol (esetshenziswa njengophethiloli kanye nencibilikisi), kanye ne-isopropyl alcohol (esetshenziswa njengesibulala-magciwane).Izinhlanganisela zotshwala zinezinhlobonhlobo ezisetshenziswayo ezimbonini ezifana nemithi, izimonyo, nemikhiqizo yokuhlanza.