In chemistry, alcohol refers to a group of organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl group, which is basically an oxygen and hydrogen atom (–OH) attached to a carbon atom. The general structure of alcohol can be written as R–OH, where “R” represents a carbon chain that can vary in size and shape. For example, ethanol, which is the alcohol found in drinks, has a simple structure with two carbon atoms and one hydroxyl group. The presence of this –OH group is what gives alcohol its unique properties like solubility in water and its characteristic behavior in chemical reactions.





