Hydroxyl group

Hydroxyl Group

The Hydroxyl group is a functional group consisting of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an oxygen atom. It is represented by the chemical formula -OH. The presence of a hydroxyl group in a molecule can significantly alter its properties and behavior.

Chemical Properties

The hydroxyl group is a polar entity due to the electronegativity difference between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This polarity allows it to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, which can significantly influence the physical and chemical properties of the compound it is part of.

Role in Organic Compounds

In organic chemistry, the hydroxyl group is a common functional group found in many types of organic compounds. It is a key component of alcohols, where it is directly bonded to a carbon atom. The presence of a hydroxyl group in an alcohol allows it to engage in hydrogen bonding, making alcohols more soluble in water than similar hydrocarbons.

Role in Biochemistry

In biochemistry, hydroxyl groups are found in many important biomolecules, including carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins. They play a crucial role in many biochemical reactions, such as the formation and breakage of polymers.

See Also

• Alcohol (chemistry)
• Carboxyl group
• Amine group
• Phosphate group

References

Hydroxyl group Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski