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Why the oxygen of a hydroxyl group act as a nucleophile or a base?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
The hydroxyl group is the common denomination for a molecule consisting of an oxygen and a hydrogen atom connected by a covalent bond, in other words a O-H, where the oxygen atom has two or three (in case its an hydroxide anion) pair of free electrons, which can attack another atom with a deficiency of electrons and make a bond (acting like a nucleophile) or the same thing but attacking a proton H+ (atom with deficiency of electrons) acting in this case as a base. In both cases it acts as a nucleophile but when it attacks a proton or a molecule with a proton (like an acid) acts specifically as a base. I hope I could answer your question.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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What is OH in chemistry?
OH- (note the negative charge) is the hydroxide ion. This ion consists of a deprotonated water molecule; it acts as a base. OH (typically denoted ROH) can also denote a hydroxyl group, which is a common functional group in organic chemistry. For example MeOH is methanol, CH3OH.
Nucleic acids are made of what elements?
Nucleic acids consist of a phosphate group, a sugar group and a nitrogenous base. The phosphate contains phosphorus and oxygen, the sugar group has carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and the base has carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
What functional group does a nucleotide contain?
Hydroxyl-OH Amino-NH2 Phosphate-PO4
Which element is not part of a nitrogenous base?
nitrogenous base consist of only three element nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, so other elements are not part of nitrogenous base.
What three basic molecules are nucleotides composed of?
A phosphate group, a sugar and a nitrogenous base
What is the following of a base?
A base contain the hydroxyl group (OH)-.
What is a definition of a base?
A base contain the group hydroxyl: -OH.
What comes from an alcohol that is not a base but has a hydroxyl group?
Basically Alcohols have Hydroxyl group but they are not bases, they have acidic character (fairly weak). The Hydroxyl group here is connected with the alkyl group (say -CH3, -C2H5 etc...) which has electron releasing ability (+ive inductive effect) thus stabilizes the oxygen atom to the good extent. Moreover due to the high electro-negativity of oxygen the Hydrogen attach with the oxygen of hydroxy group departs as proton, thus categorizes the alcohols in the list of acids not bases.
Difference between acidic hydrolysis and basic hydrolysis in amide?
Acidic Conditions: Begin by protonating the oxygen in the carbonyl group, in the next step you can add water to the activated nucleophile to make the tetrahedral intermediate. The rest of the reaction are acid base reactions to maintain an acidic equilibrium and end up the ammonium as the acid catalyst. Basic Conditions: You may begin by adding the hydroxyl group to the carbonyl carbon and then protonating the now negative oxygen from the previous alkene with the proton left over by the hydroxyl group (originally it was water). You need to dissociate your tetrahedral intermediate by protonating the amide and then pushing it out when you take the proton by the oxygen pushing the electrons to make a double bond to form the carbonyl group and push out the NH3. In the end base deprotonates the carboxylic acid and you wind up with ammonium. The main key is equilibrium, you end up with a negative charged ion at the end because you maintain a negative charge in a basic mechanism.
How do hydroxyl ions form?
A hydroxyl ion is a component of a base.
Explain why the carbonyl oxygen in the acid-base protonation reaction of acetic acid preferentially gets protonated over the hydroxyl group in the acetic acid?
Due to double bond carbonyl oxygen is less hindered as compare to hydoxyl oxygen, therefore its electron pairs are easily available for proton.
What donates hydroxyl ions?
Dissociation of a base produce hydroxyl ions.
How is the structure of glycogen similar to the structure of starch?
The hydroxyl group (-OH) is attached to carbon 1 below the pentose base.
What is OH in chemistry?
OH- (note the negative charge) is the hydroxide ion. This ion consists of a deprotonated water molecule; it acts as a base. OH (typically denoted ROH) can also denote a hydroxyl group, which is a common functional group in organic chemistry. For example MeOH is methanol, CH3OH.
Is OH negative a acid or base?
Yes, OH is acidic. That is why it usually has a (-) above it. The single +1 hydrogen doesn't make up for the -2 charge of Oxygen. Making the hydroxyl ion acidic.
What does a base produce when in solution?
A hydroxyl ion
What is a substance that releases hydroxyl ions in a water?
A substance that releases hydroxyl ions in water is a base. Bases are substances which in water, becomes slippery, has a bitter taste, changes indicator color, forms salts with acids and promotes base catalysis. Alkaline earth materials is an example of a base.
