The alpha position in organic chemistry refers to the carbon atom adjacent to a functional group, such as a carbonyl group (C=O). In the context of carbonyl compounds like aldehydes and ketones, the carbon atom directly bonded to the carbonyl carbon is termed as the α carbon, and the hydrogens attached to this α carbon are known as α hydrogens. The unique chemical environment of the alpha position allows for various important reactions, such as enolization and alkylation, due to the relatively acidic nature of the α hydrogens.