Which compound is known as ethyl alcohol?

Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, is accurately represented by the molecular formula CH₃CH₂OH. This compound features a two-carbon chain (ethane) with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the terminal carbon. The presence of this hydroxyl group is what classifies it as an alcohol. Ethanol is commonly found in alcoholic beverages and is well-known for its uses in both industrial applications and as a recreational substance.

The other molecular formulas correspond to different compounds: CH₃OH is methanol, which has only one carbon and one hydroxyl group; CH₃CH₃ represents ethane, a saturated hydrocarbon without any functional groups; and CH₃CH₂CH₃ denotes propane, which is also a saturated hydrocarbon. In contrast, only the formula CH₃CH₂OH indicates the structure and functional characteristics of ethyl alcohol.