Relating to or containing the hydroxyl group (-OH), consisting of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
From 'hydro-' (from Greek 'hydor' meaning water) + 'oxy' (from Greek 'oxys' meaning sharp or acid, referring to oxygen). Coined in 19th-century chemistry as scientists identified this common functional group in organic compounds.
The hydroxy group is one of chemistry's most important functional groups, appearing in everything from water and alcohols to sugars and DNA. Its ability to form hydrogen bonds makes it crucial for life—without hydroxy groups, water wouldn't have its unique properties and biological molecules couldn't maintain their shapes.
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