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Which parts of a hydroxyl group have partial positive and partial negative charges?
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alcohol
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In a hydroxyl group, the distribution of electrical charge is determined by the high electronegativity of the oxygen atom compared to the carbon and hydrogen atoms to which it is bonded.
Because oxygen is more electronegative, it attracts the shared electrons in the chemical bonds more strongly, resulting in the following charge distribution:
- Partial negative charge: The oxygen atom carries a slight negative charge.
- Partial positive charge: The hydrogen atom (and the carbon atom to which the hydroxyl group is attached) carries a slight positive charge.12
These polar bonds are fundamental to the chemical behavior of alcohols, as they allow for the formation of hydrogen bonds and dictate how the molecule interacts with other substances.12