Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
alcohol radical

alcohol radical

7.2
A group of atoms written as –OH that makes a molecule an alcohol
  • noun
  • /ˈæl.kə.hɔːl ˈræd.ɪ.kəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radical alcohol
  • In organic chemistry, the alcohol radical is often represented as –OH.

Examples

  • The presence of an alcohol radical in the molecule significantly affects its solubility.

  • The alcohol radical is responsible for the characteristic reactions of alcohols.

  • The alcohol radical is essential in organic chemistry.

  • Many compounds contain an alcohol radical in their structure.

  • In organic chemistry, the alcohol radical is often represented as –OH.

  • The alcohol radical is responsible for the characteristic reactions of alcohols.

  • The presence of an alcohol radical in the molecule significantly affects its solubility.

Synonyms

hydroxyl
vsalcohol radical
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A group of one oxygen and one hydrogen atom in a molecule

is defined as the univalent –OH group used in organic chemistry
hydroxyl group
vsalcohol radical
  • Specialized
6.5

A part of a molecule with one oxygen and one hydrogen atom found in alcohols

is the term used specifically for the univalent –OH group in organic chemistry
alcohol group
vsalcohol radical
  • Specialized
4.9

A part of a molecule with an oxygen and hydrogen joined to a carbon atom

is the univalent –OH group named for its role in organic chemistry

Surface Forms

alcohol radical singular
alcohol radicals plural

Morphology

alcohol + radical

Although the constituents are technically defined, the common sense of 'radical' as a highly reactive species conflicts with the MWE meaning of a stable univalent group (–OH). The use of 'radical' to mean 'chemical group' is specialized/archaic jargon, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not reliably derive 'hydroxyl group' from them.

Etymology

Alcohol radical comes from older chemistry where the word 'radical' meant a basic 'root' or part of a molecule that stays the same. The small part –OH works like that root and gives alcohols their properties, so the name points to the 'group' that makes a molecule an alcohol.