In organic chemistry, what is the general term for compounds containing a hydroxyl (-OH) group?

The general term for compounds that contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group is alcohols. This functional group is characterized by the presence of the hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom, which distinguishes alcohols from other organic compounds. Alcohols can vary in structure, with the simplest being methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH).

Understanding this classification is important, as alcohols play a significant role in various chemical reactions and applications in both industrial and biological systems. For instance, they can act as solvents, fuels, or even as intermediates in chemical synthesis.

It is essential to note that carboxylic acids contain a carboxyl group (-COOH), which includes a hydroxyl component, but their classification is specifically as acids due to the presence of the carbonyl (C=O) in addition to the hydroxyl group. Amines are another class of compounds that contain nitrogen atoms, while ethers consist of an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups, thus lacking the -OH functionality altogether. Therefore, the presence of the hydroxyl group uniquely categorizes such compounds as alcohols.