Hydroxyl

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This article is about the hydroxyl functional group. For the Hydroxyl radical, see Hydroxyl radical.
Representation of an organic hydroxyl group, where R represents a hydrocarbon or other organic moiety, the red and grey spheres represent oxygen and hydrogen atoms, respectively, and the rod-like connections between these, covalent chemical bonds.

A hydroxyl is a chemical functional group containing an oxygen atom connected by a covalent bond to a hydrogen atom, a pairing that can be simply understood as a substructure of the water molecule. When it appears, it imparts to chemical structures some of its reactive and interactive properties. Note that -OH should not be confused with the hydroxide ion of water (OH-, associated with ionizability, hydrogen bonding, etc.) The neutral form of the hydroxyl group is a hydroxyl radical. The anion form, (OH−), is called the hydroxide anion; it bears a single negative charge largely residing on the more electronegative oxygen.

Hydroxyl group

The hydroxyl group is prevalent in organic chemistry, where it is the defining functional group in alcohols. It appears throughout organic chemical structure and biochemical structure in sugars and some amino acids and phospholipids, and so in all biological barriers (biological membranes and cell walls). Hydroxyl groups belong to alcohol compounds such as ethanol (C
2H
6O).[citation needed] Hydroxyl groups can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, helping to dissolve organic compounds such as sugars. It is typically a polar group as a result of the electrons spending more time near the electronegative oxygen atom.[1] One cannot overstate its centrality in all chemistry, especially because of its necessary targeting in organic synthesis, its roles in enzyme catalysis and inhibition, and in the formation of biological structures, all because of its hydrogen bonding capability. This capability underlies protein-ligand interactions, and imparts water solubility and internal structural stability to macromolecules.

Hydroxyl radical

Main article: Hydroxyl radical

Hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive and undergo chemical reactions that make them short-lived. When biological systems are exposed to hydroxyl radicals, they can cause damage to cells, including those in humans, where they react with DNA, lipids, and proteins.

Lunar and other extraterrestrial observations

In 2009, India's Chandrayaan-1 satellite, NASA's Cassini spacecraft and the Deep Impact probe have each detected the presence of water by evidence of hydroxyl fragments on the Moon. As reported by Richard Kerr, "A spectrometer (the Moon Mineralogy Mapper, aka "M3"), detected an infrared absorption at a wavelength of 3.0 micrometers that only water or hydroxyl—a hydrogen and an oxygen bound together—could have created."[2] NASA also reported in 2009 that the LCROSS probe revealed an ultraviolet emission spectrum consistent with hydroxyl presence.[3] The Venus Express orbiter has been continuously sending back Venus science data since April 11, 2006. Results from Venus Express include the detection of hydroxyl in the atmosphere.

See also

Look up hydroxyl in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydroxyl group.

References

  1. ↑ Reece et al. 64, 88
  2. ↑ Richard A. Kerr (24 September 2009). "A Whiff of Water Found on the Moon". Science Now. Archived from the original on 17 Jul 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-22. 
  3. ↑ Jonas Dino (13 November 2009). "LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon". NASA. Retrieved 2009-11-14. 
  • Reece, Jane; Urry, Lisa; Cain, Michael; Wasserman, Steven; Minorsky, Peter; Jackson, Robert (2011). "Unit 1, Chapter 4." In Campbell Biology (9th ed.). Berge, Susan; Golden, Brandy; Triglia, Logan (eds.). San Francico: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 978-0-321-55823-7
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