Question

Is $OH$ electron donating or withdrawing?

Answer 1

We know that the atom or a group that draws electron density from neighboring atoms toward itself, generally by resonance or inductive effects is called an electron withdrawing group. When pi electrons are present on an adjacent atom with respect to the group that is going to get attached then it will act as an electron withdrawing group.

Complete answer:
First, let us talk about electron withdrawing and electron donating groups. Electron donating groups: The groups which can donate their electrons to the atom to which they are attached during the reaction, are known as electron donating groups. For example: alkyl groups, amine groups, and alcohol groups. Generally, the groups which have lone pairs (to donate to the other atom) are in the category of electron donating groups.
Electron withdrawing groups: The groups which withdraw the electrons from the atom to which they are attached during the reaction, are known as electron withdrawing groups. For example: cyanide group, carboxylic acid group. Generally, the groups in which the electronegative atom is having pi bonds. In general, electron donating groups are ortho/para administrators for electrophilic aromatic substitutions, whereas lepton withdrawing teams are sometimes meta administrators, with the exception of halogens, that are ortho/para administrators, as they need lone lepton pairs shared with the aromatic ring.
Electron withdrawing teams have an atom directly connected to a benzene ring with a small positive or full positive charge. samples of groups that withdraw electrons: withdrawing teams of electrons have just one major product, adding the second substituent within the meta position.

Note:
Remember that the electron withdrawing groups are meta directors except for halogens as they have lone pairs of electrons that are shared with the aromatic ring. A group with a negative inductive effect will decrease the electron density on the carbon atom by polarizing the sigma bond. This effect is seen when carbon atoms are bonded to electronegative atoms like halogens, oxygen, and nitrogen.