Hydroxyl - Definition and Overview

Hydroxide is a functional group consisting of oxygen and hydrogen:

^-O−H

It has a charge of 1^-.

The term hydroxyl group is used when the functional group -OH is counted as a substituent of an organic compound. Organic molecules containing a hydroxyl group are known as alcohols (C_nH_2n+1-OH).

Hydroxide is one of the simplest of the polyatomic ions. Hydroxide is a general term for any salt containing stoichiometric amounts of this polyatomic ion.

See also

• Hydronium
• Potassium hydroxide
• Iron hydroxide
• Oxide