The condensed formula for acetic acid is CH3COOH.
Write the molecular formula for acetic acid? Enter the elements in the order CHO.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The molecular formula for acetic acid is C2H4O2.
Explanation:
Acetic acid is a simple organic compound, commonly known as the main component of vinegar. The condensed formula for acetic acid is CH3COOH, which represents the structure of the molecule in a simplified form. To derive the molecular formula, we must count the number of atoms for each element present in the molecule.
- CH3 represents a methyl group, which consists of 1 carbon (C) and 3 hydrogens (H).
- COOH represents a carboxyl group, which consists of 1 carbon (C), 2 oxygens (O), and 1 hydrogen (H).
Now, let’s count the atoms in the whole molecule:
- Carbon (C): There are 2 carbon atoms in total — one in the methyl group (CH3) and one in the carboxyl group (COOH).
- Hydrogen (H): There are 4 hydrogen atoms in total — 3 in the methyl group and 1 in the carboxyl group.
- Oxygen (O): There are 2 oxygen atoms in total — both are part of the carboxyl group (COOH).
So, when you add up the elements:
- 2 Carbon atoms (C)
- 4 Hydrogen atoms (H)
- 2 Oxygen atoms (O)
Thus, the molecular formula of acetic acid is C2H4O2.
The molecular formula gives us the exact number of each type of atom in the molecule. The condensed formula CH3COOH is just a shorthand notation that shows the structure but not the exact count of atoms. The molecular formula is more precise and tells you the total composition, which is crucial when studying chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and other aspects of chemistry.
In conclusion, C2H4O2 is the molecular formula for acetic acid, showing that it is composed of two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.