CH2OHryhmästä

CH2OHryhmästä refers to the hydroxyl group, a functional group in organic chemistry. It consists of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom. The chemical formula is often represented as -OH. This group is a key component of alcohols, where it is attached to a carbon atom. For example, ethanol, a common alcohol, has the formula CH3CH2OH, with the CH2OH group being the characteristic feature.

The hydroxyl group is polar due to the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen. This polarity contributes to the solubility of compounds containing the hydroxyl group in polar solvents like water. It also allows for the formation of hydrogen bonds, which significantly influence the physical properties of substances such as alcohols and carboxylic acids, affecting their boiling points and melting points.

In reactions, the hydroxyl group can act as a nucleophile or an electrophile, depending on the reaction conditions. It can be deprotonated to form an alkoxide ion, a strong nucleophile. It can also be protonated, making the oxygen atom a better leaving group in certain substitution or elimination reactions. The presence of a hydroxyl group is fundamental to the chemistry of carbohydrates, amino acids, and many other biologically important molecules. Its ability to participate in a wide range of chemical transformations makes it one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry.