Alcohols contain which functional group?

• A. Hydroxyl group ($-OH$)
• B. Amino group ($-N{H}_2$)
• C. Carbonyl group ($C=O$)
• D. Carboxyl group ($-C=OOH$)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule.
2. Recall that alcohols are organic compounds characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl group, which consists of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.
3. Identify the hydroxyl group as \(-\mathrm{OH}\), where the oxygen is single-bonded to a carbon atom in the molecule and also bonded to a hydrogen atom.
4. Compare this to other functional groups: the amino group is \(-\mathrm{NH}_2\), the carbonyl group is \(\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O}\), and the carboxyl group is \(-\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O}\mathrm{OH}\).
5. Conclude that the defining functional group of alcohols is the hydroxyl group \(-\mathrm{OH}\).