Select the correct chemical formula for ethanol.

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Multiple Choice

Select the correct chemical formula for ethanol.

Explanation:
Ethanol is a two-carbon alcohol with one hydroxyl group, so its formula reflects two carbons, six hydrogens, and one oxygen. Writing the structure as CH3-CH2-OH shows exactly that: two carbons connected in a chain, with hydrogen atoms completing the valence on the carbons and one OH group. The standard condensed formula that matches this is C2H5OH, which corresponds to ethanol. The other options represent different things: methanol has one carbon (CH3OH), propanol has three carbons (C3H8O), and ethylene glycol would have two oxygens (C2H6O2).

Ethanol is a two-carbon alcohol with one hydroxyl group, so its formula reflects two carbons, six hydrogens, and one oxygen. Writing the structure as CH3-CH2-OH shows exactly that: two carbons connected in a chain, with hydrogen atoms completing the valence on the carbons and one OH group. The standard condensed formula that matches this is C2H5OH, which corresponds to ethanol. The other options represent different things: methanol has one carbon (CH3OH), propanol has three carbons (C3H8O), and ethylene glycol would have two oxygens (C2H6O2).

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