Concept:
Opioid painkillers, like morphine, fit into special opioid receptors in the body. Certain parts of the molecule are needed for this binding and for good pain relief.
Step 1:
A key part of morphine and similar opioids is the phenolic hydroxyl group (an -OH attached to an aromatic ring). This group helps the drug bind to the receptor and is important for strong analgesic activity.
Step 2:
A carboxylic acid group, an ester linkage, or a sulfonamide group are not the essential feature for opioid pain relief, so the other options are incorrect.
Answer: Option (2) — Phenolic hydroxyl group.