Hydroxy group: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:46, 13 February 2025

Hydroxy Group[edit]

3D model of a hydroxy group

A hydroxy group is a functional group consisting of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom. It is represented by the chemical formula -OH. The hydroxy group is a characteristic component of alcohols and phenols, and it plays a crucial role in the chemistry of many organic compounds.

Structure and Properties[edit]

The hydroxy group is polar due to the difference in electronegativity between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This polarity allows hydroxy groups to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, which significantly affects the physical properties of compounds containing them, such as boiling point and solubility in water.

Occurrence[edit]

Hydroxy groups are found in a wide variety of chemical compounds. They are present in simple alcohols like methanol and ethanol, as well as in more complex molecules such as carbohydrates and amino acids. The presence of hydroxy groups in these compounds is often critical to their biological function.

Chemical Reactions[edit]

Hydroxy groups can participate in a variety of chemical reactions. They can act as nucleophiles in substitution reactions, and they can be deprotonated to form alkoxide ions, which are strong bases. Hydroxy groups can also undergo oxidation to form carbonyl groups, such as in the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones.

Applications[edit]

Compounds containing hydroxy groups have numerous applications in industry and medicine. For example, ethanol is widely used as a solvent and in alcoholic beverages, while glycerol is used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Hydroxy groups are also important in the synthesis of polymers and other materials.

Related Pages[edit]

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-'''Hydroxy group''' refers to a functional group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH). It is a prevalent group in organic chemistry and is characteristic of alcohols, where it is directly bonded to a carbon atom. The presence of a hydroxy group in a molecule can significantly influence the molecule's physical and chemical properties, such as solubility, boiling point, and reactivity.
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:Hydroxy group}}
-==Structure and Bonding==
+== Hydroxy Group ==
-The hydroxy group consists of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom. The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atom, which results in a polar bond. This polarity allows molecules containing hydroxy groups to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, including water, making substances with hydroxy groups generally more soluble in water than those without.
-==Nomenclature==
+[[File:Hydroxyl3D.png|thumb|right|3D model of a hydroxy group]]
-In IUPAC nomenclature, compounds with a hydroxy group are known as alcohols. The name of the parent alkane is modified by replacing the terminal "-e" with "-ol" (e.g., methane becomes methanol, and ethane becomes ethanol). When the hydroxy group is not the principal functional group, the prefix "hydroxy-" is used in naming the compound.
-==Chemical Properties==
+A '''hydroxy group''' is a functional group consisting of an [[oxygen]] atom covalently bonded to a [[hydrogen]] atom. It is represented by the chemical formula -OH. The hydroxy group is a characteristic component of [[alcohol]]s and [[phenol]]s, and it plays a crucial role in the chemistry of many organic compounds.
-The hydroxy group is a versatile functional group that can undergo various chemical reactions. It can act as a weak acid, donating its hydrogen atom as a proton (H+) in a reaction, which makes alcohols weakly acidic. The hydroxy group can also be involved in dehydration reactions, where it reacts with another hydroxy group to form water and an ether or with a carboxylic acid to form an ester.
-==Biological Significance==
+== Structure and Properties ==
-Hydroxy groups play a crucial role in biology. They are present in many biologically important molecules, including carbohydrates, where they contribute to the formation of glycosidic bonds, and in steroids, where they affect the molecule's polarity and reactivity. Hydroxylation, the addition of a hydroxy group to an organic compound, is an important biochemical process that can alter the activity of molecules, such as the conversion of steroids in the body.
-==Environmental Relevance==
+The hydroxy group is polar due to the difference in electronegativity between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This polarity allows hydroxy groups to form [[hydrogen bond]]s with other molecules, which significantly affects the physical properties of compounds containing them, such as [[boiling point]] and [[solubility]] in water.
-Hydroxy groups are also significant in environmental chemistry, particularly in the formation of atmospheric particles. The hydroxylation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) leads to the production of more water-soluble compounds that can condense and form particulate matter, affecting air quality and climate.
-[[Category:Chemical groups]]
+== Occurrence ==
-[[Category:Organic chemistry]]
-{{Chemistry-stub}}
+Hydroxy groups are found in a wide variety of chemical compounds. They are present in simple alcohols like [[methanol]] and [[ethanol]], as well as in more complex molecules such as [[carbohydrate]]s and [[amino acid]]s. The presence of hydroxy groups in these compounds is often critical to their biological function.
+== Chemical Reactions ==
+Hydroxy groups can participate in a variety of chemical reactions. They can act as nucleophiles in [[substitution reaction]]s, and they can be deprotonated to form [[alkoxide]] ions, which are strong bases. Hydroxy groups can also undergo [[oxidation]] to form [[carbonyl]] groups, such as in the conversion of alcohols to [[aldehyde]]s or [[ketone]]s.
+== Applications ==
+Compounds containing hydroxy groups have numerous applications in industry and medicine. For example, [[ethanol]] is widely used as a solvent and in alcoholic beverages, while [[glycerol]] is used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Hydroxy groups are also important in the synthesis of [[polymer]]s and other materials.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Alcohol]]
+* [[Phenol]]
+* [[Hydrogen bond]]
+* [[Oxidation]]
+* [[Functional group]]
+[[Category:Functional groups]]