Hydroxymethyl group

The hydroxymethyl group is a substituent with the structural formula −CH₂−OH. It consists of a methylene bridge (−CH₂− unit) bonded to a hydroxyl group (−OH). This makes the hydroxymethyl group an alcohol. It has the identical chemical formula with the methoxy group (−O−CH₃) that differs only in the attachment site and orientation to the rest of the molecule. However, their chemical properties are different.^[1][2]

Hydroxymethyl group

Hydroxymethyl group covalently bonded to an R group
Names
IUPAC name Hydroxymethyl group
Other names Methanol radical
Identifiers
CAS Number	2597-43-5 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	121313 N
PubChem CID	137654
InChI InChI=1S/CH3O/c1-2/h2H,1H2 N Key: CBOIHMRHGLHBPB-UHFFFAOYSA-N N
SMILES [CH2]O
Properties
Chemical formula	−CH2OH
Molar mass	31.034 g·mol−1
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−9 kJ/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Hydroxymethyl is the side chain of encoded amino acid serine.^[3]