Definition

Noun: - The chemical group -OH: In chemistry, this term refers to a specific functional group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. It is the defining group for alcohols and is responsible for many of their characteristic properties.

Usage

• The term is used primarily in scientific and chemical contexts to describe the functional group present in alcohol molecules.
• It is a technical term and is not commonly used in everyday language.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The presence of an alcohol group makes the molecule polar.
  • Ethanol contains an alcohol group attached to a two-carbon chain.

Advanced Usage

• As a functional group: The alcohol group (-OH) is key to classifying organic compounds as alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol).
  • The reactivity of the compound is determined by its alcohol group.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydroxyl group: This is a more general and often synonymous term for the -OH group, which can be found not only in alcohols but also in other compounds like water (H₂O) and carboxylic acids.
  • Both water and ethanol contain a hydroxyl group.
• Hydroxy: A prefix or adjective used to indicate the presence of an -OH group in a molecule.
  • The compound is a hydroxy derivative of benzene.

Synonyms

• Hydroxyl group: The most direct synonym in chemical terminology.
• -OH group: A common shorthand notation.

Notes on Meaning

• This term has a single, specific meaning in scientific discourse. It does not refer to alcoholic beverages or social drinking. The word "alcohol" alone has broader meanings, but the phrase "alcohol group" is strictly technical.

Noun

1. the chemical group -OH