What is the structural formula for methanol?

What is the structural formula for methanol?

• A. CH3 OH
• B. CH3OH
• C. CH2OH
• D. CH3O H

Answer: (A)

Methanol has one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogens and to a hydroxyl group (−OH). Writing CH3OH shows exactly that connectivity: the CH3 part is the carbon with three hydrogens, and the OH is the hydroxyl group attached to it. This is the standard way to represent a simple alcohol’s structure in text. The alternative with CH2OH would imply only two hydrogens on the carbon, which doesn’t satisfy carbon’s four bonds for methanol. The form with CH3O H (or CH3 O H with a space) disrupts the bond representation and isn’t a conventional way to show the connectivity. Therefore, CH3OH best conveys the correct structural formula for methanol.

Methanol has one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogens and to a hydroxyl group (−OH). Writing CH3OH shows exactly that connectivity: the CH3 part is the carbon with three hydrogens, and the OH is the hydroxyl group attached to it. This is the standard way to represent a simple alcohol’s structure in text.

The alternative with CH2OH would imply only two hydrogens on the carbon, which doesn’t satisfy carbon’s four bonds for methanol. The form with CH3O H (or CH3 O H with a space) disrupts the bond representation and isn’t a conventional way to show the connectivity. Therefore, CH3OH best conveys the correct structural formula for methanol.