What is the molecular formula for ethanol?

Ethanol is a simple alcohol with the molecular structure that consists of two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. Its molecular formula can be represented in various ways, but the most recognized form is C2H5OH, which highlights its functional group as an alcohol.

The structure indicates that one of the hydrogen atoms from the ethyl group (C2H5) is replaced by a hydroxyl group (OH), which characterizes ethanol as an alcohol. This formulation is not only accurate in terms of the number of each type of atom but also important structurally, showcasing the presence of the hydroxyl group that imparts the properties of alcohols to this compound.

In contrast, other choices do not accurately represent the structure or composition of ethanol. For instance, C2H6O would suggest an incorrect hydrogen count for a stable ethanol molecule, while C2H4O2 corresponds to acetic acid, a different compound altogether. C2H5O also fails to correctly illustrate the complete structure of ethanol, missing the necessary hydrogen for proper representation as an alcohol.