hydroxyl

noun

hy·​drox·​yl hī-ˈdräk-səl How to pronounce hydroxyl (audio)
1
: the chemical group, ion, or radical OH that consists of one atom of hydrogen and one of oxygen and is neutral or negatively charged
2
hydroxylic adjective

Examples of hydroxyl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Previous studies have revealed that protons from the solar wind that bombards the moon can absorb electrons from materials at its surface, forming atomic hydrogen that then reacts with oxygen atoms from silicate rocks to make hydroxyl—a molecule just one hydrogen atom short of water. Leonard David, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2020 Those measurements focused on a shorter, three-micron wavelength that was more ambiguous, unable to differentiate between a water molecule, which consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom or hydroxyl, which has one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2020 The goal of this latest expedition, which is scheduled to return mid-February, is to see whether concentrations of an atmospheric molecule called hydroxyl, or OH, has changed over time since the industrial revolution. Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2018 During photocatalysis, light is absorbed by photocatalysts that have the ability to create electron-hole pairs, which generate free hydroxyl radicals that are able to react with target pollutants and degrade them. IEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for hydroxyl 

Word History

Etymology

hydr- + ox- + -yl

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydroxyl was in 1869

Dictionary Entries Near hydroxyl

Cite this Entry

“Hydroxyl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydroxyl. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hydroxyl

noun
hy·​drox·​yl hī-ˈdräk-səl How to pronounce hydroxyl (audio)
: a chemical group or ion that consists of one atom of hydrogen and one of oxygen

Medical Definition

hydroxyl

noun
hy·​drox·​yl hī-ˈdräk-səl How to pronounce hydroxyl (audio)
1
: the chemical group or ion OH that consists of one atom of hydrogen and one of oxygen and is neutral or positively charged
2
hydroxylic adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!