Why is ethanol considered the parent chain in naming this benzene derivative?

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    Benzene Derivative
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SUMMARY

The molecule 1‐(3‐nitrophenyl)ethanol is named with ethanol as the parent chain due to its higher priority over the phenyl group. The presence of the hydroxyl (OH) group on the ethyl portion of the molecule establishes its precedence in nomenclature. If the hydroxyl group is replaced with a hydrogen atom, the compound transforms into 3-ethyl nitromethane, while removing a carbon from the ethyl group results in 3-nitrotoluene. This illustrates the significance of functional groups in determining the parent chain in organic chemistry nomenclature.

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Homework Statement
Name the following molecule (below)
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1670911286423.png

The name of this molecule is 1‐(3‐nitrophenyl)ethanol. I'm confused why ethanol is treated as the parent chain in this case, not the phenyl group. If the ring is composed of more atoms, should it be the parent chain?
Thank you.
 
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Because ethanol is the highest priority group.
 
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To help make it clear, it's the oxygen on the ethyl group that gives it the priority. Replace the OH with H and it becomes 3 ethyl nitromethane. On the other hand, lose a carbon at the ethyl and it becomes 3 nitrotoluene, so hopefully that clears everything up!
 

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