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The characteristic atom arrangement of all alcohols is the presence of a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom. This functional group distinguishes alcohols from other types of organic compounds. The -OH group imparts specific properties to alcohols, such as their ability to engage in hydrogen bonding, which affects their boiling points and solubility in water.

Alcohols can be classified into primary, secondary, or tertiary based on the number of carbon atoms bonded to the carbon that carries the hydroxyl group. The -OH group is critical to the chemical behavior and reactivity of alcohols, making it a defining feature of the entire class of compounds.

In contrast, the other options represent different functional groups or arrangements found in other types of compounds. For example, C=C represents a carbon-carbon double bond typical of alkenes, C-O-C depicts an ether functional group where oxygen is bonded between two carbon atoms, and C=O signifies a carbonyl group that is characteristic of ketones and aldehydes.