What is the molecular formula for methanol?

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Study for the IGCSE Organic Chemistry Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively to excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the molecular formula for methanol?

Explanation:
Methanol is an alcohol with one carbon atom that is bonded to three hydrogens and to a hydroxyl group. Writing CH3OH shows this structure clearly: a CH3 methyl group attached to an OH group. This representation communicates both the composition (one C, four H, one O) and the connectivity that defines methanol as an alcohol. While CH4O would describe the same atom counts, CH3OH is the more informative way to write the formula in organic chemistry because it highlights the functional group present. The other formulas with more carbons correspond to different alcohols (ethanol, propanol), not methanol.

Methanol is an alcohol with one carbon atom that is bonded to three hydrogens and to a hydroxyl group. Writing CH3OH shows this structure clearly: a CH3 methyl group attached to an OH group. This representation communicates both the composition (one C, four H, one O) and the connectivity that defines methanol as an alcohol. While CH4O would describe the same atom counts, CH3OH is the more informative way to write the formula in organic chemistry because it highlights the functional group present. The other formulas with more carbons correspond to different alcohols (ethanol, propanol), not methanol.

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