hüdroksüülgruppi

A hüdroksüülgrupp is a functional group in organic chemistry consisting of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom. Its chemical formula is -OH. This group is characteristic of alcohols, where it is attached to a carbon atom. It is also found in phenols, where it is attached to an aromatic ring, and in carboxylic acids, where it is part of the carboxyl group (-COOH).

The presence of a hüdroksüülgrupp significantly influences the physical and chemical properties of a molecule. It is highly polar due to the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen, leading to hydrogen bonding. This property makes molecules containing hüdroksüülgruppi soluble in water and other polar solvents, and it also contributes to higher boiling points compared to nonpolar compounds of similar molecular weight.

Chemically, the hüdroksüülgrupp can act as a nucleophile or an electrophile depending on the reaction conditions. It can undergo oxidation, esterification, etherification, and substitution reactions. In alcohols, the acidity of the hydrogen atom in the hüdroksüülgrupp is generally weak, but it can be deprotonated by strong bases. The hüdroksüülgrupp is a fundamental building block in a vast array of organic compounds, playing a crucial role in biological systems and synthetic chemistry.