The term "alcohol group" refers to a functional group consisting of a hydroxyl (-OH) attached to a carbon atom in a molecule. Alternatives to "alcohol group" include hydroxyl functional group, alkanol group, and hydroxy group. Hydroxyl functional group denotes any molecule that contains a hydroxyl group, while alkanol group distinguishes the molecule as a type of alcohol derived from an alkane. Hydroxy group is commonly used in medicinal chemistry to describe molecules that contain the hydroxyl functional group as a key component. Regardless of which synonym is used, the presence of an alcohol group imparts important chemical reactivity to a molecule, making it an important functional group to consider in various fields of study.