Hydroxyl is an chemical group that plays a big role in organic chemistry. It is an -OH functional group with an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, and it is usually represented as OH. These are the groups that are responsible for the framework and activity of the variety of organic compounds, and this in turn impacts their properties and reactivity. In this article, we will learn about hydroxyl group, its properties, compound containing hydroxyl group, their nomenclature rule etc.

What is a Hydroxyl Group?

Hydroxyl group is the name of the chemical group, which is simply a single oxygen atom combined with a hydrogen atom. It is essential in organic molecules and lends them some of the properties they possess. The hydroxyl group having an impact on the solubility, acidity and reactivity of organic materials is quite common.

Structure of Hydroxyl Group

The structure of an OH group involves a single oxygen atom connected to a hydrogen atom. This bond can be identified by a covalent bond that is composed of the sharing between oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The oxygen atom usually has a partial negative charge since its electronegativity is higher than that of hydrogen, and hydrogen is positively charged. This arrangement of structures gives hydroxyl groups their unique structure and reactivity, which is a distinguishing feature of hydroxyl groups.

Characteristics of the Hydroxyl

The group of hydroxyls on organic chemistry have different features. 

• They are capable of hydrogen bonding, and this is the “key” to the physical properties of compounds. 
• Further, hydroxyl groups can undergo a variety of chemical reactions, such as oxidation and esterification, as a result of the presence oxygen atom.

Examples of Organic Compounds with Hydroxyl Groups

Some of the examples of organic compounds with hydroxyl groups are mentioned below:

• Ethanol
• Glycerol
• Glucose
• Salicylic acid
• Methanol
• Phenol
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Ethylene glycol
• Lactic acid
• Citric acid

Chemical Properties of Hydroxyl Group

The chemical properties of hydroxyl group are mentioned below:

• The hydroxyl group consists of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom bonded together.
• It is commonly found in organic compounds such as alcohols and carbohydrates.
• Chemically, it can form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, impacting properties like solubility and boiling point.
• In reactions, it can function as both a weak acid and a weak base.
• Its presence in molecules often influences their behavior and properties.

Alcohol Formation

The alcohol production process goes through the hydroxylation of a molecule. In most cases, this process takes place by way of reactions like hydration of alkenes and nucleophilic substitutions of halogenated hydrocarbons with entities such as water or alcohols. Thus, the -OH group is attached to the carbon atom of an existing compound, yielding a brand-new molecule. This characteristic group is therefore responsible for alcohols’ ability to dissolve in water and being prone to undergo different chemical reactions.

Oxidation and Esterification Reactions

Hydroxyl groups are oxygens and hydrogen atoms bonding together, and reactions of oxidation and esterification are such that they involve hydroxyl groups.

Oxidation takes place when hydroxyl group goes through a chemical change in which it loses its electrons, and as a result, a different compound is produced. This method turns alcohols (which possess hydroxyl groups) into other functional groups e.g. aldehydes, ketones or carboxyl acids.

Formation of the ester, however, occurs through the esterification reaction which is the union of a hydroxyl and a carboxylic acid group. Through this reaction, the initial compound is called an ester, which is the compound that has a distinct fruity odor and it is commonly used in perfumes as well as flavorings.

Both oxidation and esterification are essential reactions in chemistry. As a result, organic compounds with diverse properties and applications can be synthesized with these reactions.

Nomenclature for Compounds with Hydroxyl Groups

Those alcohols that include hydroxyl groups in their longest chain, are named according to the number of carbon atoms the chain has and the position of the hydroxyl group.

When the hydroxyl group is connected to an end carbon of the chain, the compound is referred to as alcohol and obtained the suffix “-ol.” For example, if there are three carbon atoms and hydroxyl group is bound to the first carbon, it is called “propanol.”

In this case, if the hydroxyl group is attached to the carbon within the chain, the number of the carbon is also used to indicate the position of hydroxyl group. Another example, if three carbon atoms are present and the hydroxyl group is connected to the second carbon, the name is given as “2-propanol.”

Like other compounds, those with multiple hydroxyl groups are named in a similar way; the prefix indicates the number of hydroxyl groups. This is illustrated by the fact that, for instance, a compound which contains two hydroxyl groups will be a “diol” and one which has three will be a “triol.”

IUPAC Nomenclature Rules

The IUPAC nomenclature rule with example for hydroxyl group is tabulated below: