What is the displayed formula for methanol?

What is the displayed formula for methanol?

• A. CH3OH
• B. CH3 OH
• C. CH4O
• D. CH2OH

Answer: (A)

Displayed structural formulas show how atoms are connected in a molecule. Methanol has one carbon bonded to three hydrogens and to a hydroxyl group (OH). Writing it as CH3OH shows that exact arrangement: the carbon carries three H atoms and is directly attached to the OH group, which is what defines the molecule as an alcohol. A form with a space isn’t standard notation, so it doesn’t clearly convey the connectivity. A pure molecular formula (CH4O) only tells how many atoms of each element are present, not how they are arranged, so it doesn’t display the structure. CH2OH would imply a different arrangement with only two hydrogens on the carbon, which is not methanol.

Displayed structural formulas show how atoms are connected in a molecule. Methanol has one carbon bonded to three hydrogens and to a hydroxyl group (OH). Writing it as CH3OH shows that exact arrangement: the carbon carries three H atoms and is directly attached to the OH group, which is what defines the molecule as an alcohol.

A form with a space isn’t standard notation, so it doesn’t clearly convey the connectivity. A pure molecular formula (CH4O) only tells how many atoms of each element are present, not how they are arranged, so it doesn’t display the structure. CH2OH would imply a different arrangement with only two hydrogens on the carbon, which is not methanol.