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Multiple Choice
Which of the following functional groups is present in the molecule ethanol (CH3CH2OH)?
A
Amino group
B
Carboxyl group
C
Carbonyl group
D
Hydroxyl group
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the molecular structure of ethanol, which is CH3CH2OH. This structure consists of a two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group attached to the second carbon.
Understand the definition of a hydroxyl group. A hydroxyl group is characterized by the presence of an -OH group bonded to a carbon atom.
Compare the functional groups listed in the problem: amino group, carboxyl group, and carbonyl group. An amino group contains a nitrogen atom bonded to hydrogen atoms (NH2), a carboxyl group contains a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and bonded to an -OH group (COOH), and a carbonyl group contains a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O).
Recognize that none of the listed groups (amino, carboxyl, carbonyl) match the -OH group present in ethanol. The -OH group is specifically known as a hydroxyl group.
Conclude that the functional group present in ethanol is the hydroxyl group, as it matches the -OH group in the molecular structure of ethanol.