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Glite Dictionary
alcohol group

alcohol group

4.9
A part of a molecule with an oxygen and hydrogen joined to a carbon atom
  • noun
  • /ˈæl.kə.hɔːl ɡruːp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : grupo alcohol
  • An alcohol group consists of a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group.

Examples

  • The presence of an alcohol group makes ethanol soluble in water.

  • The chemist identified an alcohol group attached to the carbon chain.

  • Organic molecules with an alcohol group are classified as alcohols.

  • The alcohol group is crucial in organic chemistry.

  • Organic molecules with an alcohol group are classified as alcohols.

  • The chemist identified an alcohol group attached to the carbon chain.

  • The presence of an alcohol group makes ethanol soluble in water.

Synonyms

hydroxyl
vsalcohol group
  • Specialized
1 7.9

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

narrows use to cases where –OH attaches directly to carbon
alcohol radical
vsalcohol group
  • Specialized
7.2

A group of atoms written as –OH that makes a molecule an alcohol

specifies that the –OH is bonded to a carbon atom rather than other atoms
hydroxyl group
vsalcohol group
  • Specialized
6.5

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

limits meaning to –OH groups specifically bonded to carbon atoms

Surface Forms

alcohol group singular
alcohol groups plural

Morphology

alcohol + group

The meaning is directly compositional: 'alcohol' (a class of molecules bearing –OH) combined with 'group' (an assembly of atoms) yields the functional –OH group associated with alcohols. This naming pattern is regular in chemistry and cross-linguistically transparent, so a learner who knows the two constituent words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Alcohol group names the small part of a molecule where a hydrogen atom joins an oxygen atom and that pair sits on a carbon atom. Chemists write this part as -OH, and that is why molecules with it are called 'alcohols'.