Alcohol radical

Alcohol radical refers to the functional group in organic chemistry that consists of a carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom via a single bond, which in turn is bonded to a hydrogen atom or another carbon atom. The general formula for an alcohol radical is -OH. It is a key component in the structure of alcohols.

Structure and Properties

The alcohol radical, also known as the hydroxyl group, is polar due to the electronegativity difference between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This polarity allows alcohols to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, contributing to their unique physical and chemical properties.

Occurrence and Synthesis

Alcohol radicals are commonly found in many organic compounds, including sugars, alcohols, and certain amino acids. They can be synthesized through various methods, such as the hydration of alkenes or the reduction of carbonyl groups.

Reactions

Alcohol radicals are involved in a variety of chemical reactions. They can act as both nucleophiles and bases, participating in reactions such as nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions. In addition, they can be oxidized to form carbonyl compounds or reduced to form alkanes.

Applications

Due to their reactivity, alcohol radicals are widely used in organic synthesis. They are also key components in the structure of many important biological molecules, such as glycerol and cholesterol.

See Also

• Alcohol
• Functional group
• Organic chemistry
• Hydroxyl group
• Nucleophile
• Base (chemistry)