Final answer:
Alpha-tocopherol is the active form of vitamin E, a type of alcohol with strong antioxidant properties, protecting cells from oxidative damage via its hydroxyl group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The active form of vitamin E is alpha-tocopherol. This specific compound is a type of alcohol that exhibits powerful antioxidant properties. Alpha-tocopherol, chemically known as 5,7,8-trimethyltocol, is a highly effective form of vitamin E, protecting cell membranes and other fat-soluble parts of the body from oxidation. As an antioxidant, it helps in scavenging free radicals, thereby preventing oxidative damage to cells. The characteristic structure of alpha-tocopherol includes a chromane double ring, with a free hydroxyl group on the aromatic ring, essential for its antioxidant action.
It is important to note that the term alcohol in chemistry refers to a class of organic compounds that have one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups replacing a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon. Vitamin E, and specifically alpha-tocopherol, falls into this category due to the presence of the hydroxyl group that is critical to its function as an antioxidant.