Which of the following corresponds to the formula for acetic acid?

The correct formula for acetic acid, which is also known as ethanoic acid, is indeed represented as C2H4O2. Acetic acid comprises two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms in its molecular structure.

To understand why this formula accurately depicts acetic acid, consider its composition. The acetic acid molecule features a carboxyl group (-COOH), which consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group (–OH). The remaining hydrogen and carbon atoms complete the structure, resulting in a total of two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.

The other choices do not represent acetic acid. For example, C3H6O3 indicates a different molecular composition, which could represent a different acid such as propanoic acid. C2H6O suggests a structure with more hydrogen than what is present in acetic acid, indicating a potential alcohol rather than an acid. Lastly, C2H2O2 would imply an unbalanced formula considering the typical bonding rules for carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in this context. Thus, C2H4O2 is the correct and recognized molecular formula for