In chemistry, an alcohol (from the Arabic word al-kuḥl, الكحل) is a type of organic compound that carries at least one hydroxyl (−OH) functional group bound to a saturated carbon atom.[2][3] Alcohols range from the simple, like methanol and ethanol, to complex, like sugars and cholesterol. The presence of an OH group strongly modifies the properties of hydrocarbons, conferring hydrophilic (water-loving) properties. The OH group provides a site at which many reactions can occur.