Hydroxyl group

A functional group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, written –OH. Its behavior depends on the molecule to which it is attached.

Hydrogen bonding: An attractive interaction involving a hydrogen bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom. Hydroxyl groups can donate and accept hydrogen bonds, shaping solubility and molecular structure.
Oxygen: A chemical element with atomic number 8 that commonly forms two covalent bonds. Oxygen’s bonding and electronegativity give the hydroxyl group its defining properties.
Ethanol: A two-carbon alcohol used in beverages, solvents, fuels, and antiseptics. Its single hydroxyl group gives ethanol strong water affinity and characteristic alcohol reactions.
Hydroxy group: The substituent –OH when named as part of a molecule rather than as its principal functional group. The same structure is described as hydroxy in substitutive names when another group takes priority.
Polarity: An uneven distribution of electrical charge across a bond or molecule. The electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen makes the O–H bond polar.
Covalent bond: A chemical bond formed when atoms share electron pairs. The O–H connection in a hydroxyl group is a covalent bond.
Glucose: A six-carbon monosaccharide that serves as a major energy source in living organisms. Multiple hydroxyl groups make glucose water-soluble and enable its ring forms.
Ether: An organic compound in which an oxygen atom links two carbon-containing groups. Replacing the hydroxyl hydrogen with carbon gives an ether linkage and removes the O–H bond.
Acidity: The tendency of a substance to donate protons or increase proton concentration in solution. Some hydroxyl groups can lose their hydrogen as a proton, with acidity set by molecular context.
Alcohol: An organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bonded to a saturated carbon atom. Alcohols are a major class of compounds defined by a carbon-bound hydroxyl group.

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