What is the chemical formula for ethanoic acid?

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Multiple Choice

What is the chemical formula for ethanoic acid?

Explanation:
Ethanoic acid is a two-carbon carboxylic acid with a carboxyl group (-COOH). Its formula shows a CH3 group attached to COOH, giving CH3COOH (often written as C2H4O2). Counting atoms: two carbons, four hydrogens (three on the CH3 group and one on the carboxyl OH), and two oxygens (one in the carbonyl, one in the hydroxyl). The other choices correspond to ethanol (C2H5OH), methane (CH4), and a different acid with three oxygens (C2H4O3), so they don’t match ethanoic acid. Therefore, CH3COOH is the formula.

Ethanoic acid is a two-carbon carboxylic acid with a carboxyl group (-COOH). Its formula shows a CH3 group attached to COOH, giving CH3COOH (often written as C2H4O2). Counting atoms: two carbons, four hydrogens (three on the CH3 group and one on the carboxyl OH), and two oxygens (one in the carbonyl, one in the hydroxyl). The other choices correspond to ethanol (C2H5OH), methane (CH4), and a different acid with three oxygens (C2H4O3), so they don’t match ethanoic acid. Therefore, CH3COOH is the formula.

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