Step 1: Understand what a phenol is. A phenol is a type of chemical compound.
Step 2: Learn about functional groups. A functional group is a specific group of atoms that gives a compound its characteristic properties.
Step 3: Identify the specific functional group in phenols. Phenols have a hydroxyl group, which is represented as -OH.
Step 4: Recognize that this hydroxyl group is attached to an aromatic ring. An aromatic ring is a stable ring of carbon atoms with alternating double bonds.
Step 5: Conclude that the presence of the -OH group attached to the aromatic ring is what characterizes phenols.
