What is the functional group present in alcohols?

The functional group present in alcohols is the hydroxyl group, which is represented as -OH. This group consists of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, and it is the defining feature that classifies a compound as an alcohol. The presence of the hydroxyl group leads to the characteristic properties of alcohols, such as their ability to hydrogen bond, which influences their boiling points and solubility in water.

Alcohols can be categorized based on the number of hydroxyl groups attached to the carbon chain and the nature of the carbon atoms to which they are attached (primary, secondary, or tertiary). The presence of the hydroxyl group plays a crucial role in the reactivity and behavior of alcohols in various chemical reactions, including oxidation and esterification.

In contrast, the other functional groups listed—amino, ketone, and carboxyl—are present in different classes of organic compounds and do not define alcohols. The amino group is characteristic of amines, the ketone group is found in ketones, and the carboxyl group is indicative of carboxylic acids. Hence, only the hydroxyl group is relevant for identifying alcohols.