What class of compounds do alcohols belong to?

Alcohols belong to the class of compounds known as hydroxy compounds. This classification is based on the presence of a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom within the molecule. The defining feature of alcohols is this hydroxyl functional group, which distinguishes them from other types of organic compounds.

Hydroxy compounds encompass a broader category that includes alcohols specifically as well as other compounds featuring one or more hydroxyl groups. The presence of the hydroxyl group is what imparts unique chemical properties to alcohols, making them distinct from alkanes, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids.

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms, without any functional groups, while aldehydes and carboxylic acids contain carbonyl groups (C=O) that characterize their structure. Thus, the nature of the functional group in alcohols is what firmly places them in the hydroxy compounds category.