Hydroxy

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Hydroxy is a term used in organic chemistry to describe a molecule that contains a hydroxyl functional group. The prefix "hydroxy-" is used in IUPAC nomenclature to indicate the presence of a hydroxyl group.

Chemical Structure[edit | edit source]

The hydroxyl group consists of an oxygen atom bonded covalently to a hydrogen atom. In a hydroxy compound, the hydroxyl group is bonded to a carbon atom. This can be represented as -OH in chemical structures.

Properties[edit | edit source]

Hydroxy compounds are typically polar due to the presence of the hydroxyl group, which is a polar functional group. This can lead to increased solubility in water and other polar solvents. The presence of a hydroxyl group can also affect the reactivity of the molecule.

Examples[edit | edit source]

Examples of hydroxy compounds include alcohols, such as ethanol and methanol, and carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid. In these compounds, the hydroxyl group is directly bonded to a carbon atom.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Hydroxy Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD