hydroxyl radical
Noun
Meaning
the monovalent group -OH in such compounds as bases and some acids and alcohols
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
The vacant bonds on the hydroxyl radical and the proton unite in their turn, forming a molecule of water, that then goes free.
Monatomic oxygen (O) in the upper stratosphere reacts with methane (CH 4 ) to form a hydroxyl radical (OH·).