The ‘R’ in ROH represents b) a hydrocarbon group with a name ending in ‘yl’. In organic chemistry, the ‘R’ stands for a generic alkyl group, which is a part of the molecule that is composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Alkyl groups can vary in structure and size, but they always end with the suffix ‘yl’, indicating that they are derived from alkanes by removing one hydrogen atom.
In the context of the formula ROH, ‘R’ signifies the hydrocarbon portion, while ‘OH’ indicates a hydroxyl group, forming an alcohol. Therefore, selecting ‘b’ is the most accurate choice as it directly aligns with the definition of ‘R’ in organic compounds.