What is the chemical formula for acetic acid?

Acetic acid, a common organic compound, is represented by the chemical formula CH3COOH. This formula indicates the presence of two anodes, derived from the acetic acid structure, where one carbon is part of a methyl group (CH3-) and the other is part of a carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH).

The first carbon, associated with the three hydrogen atoms, indicates that it is a methyl group, which contributes to the overall structure and characteristics of acetic acid. The -COOH part signifies that it has the acidic behavior typical of carboxylic acids, making it an important compound in both biological and industrial contexts.

The other options do not accurately represent acetic acid. For instance, while CHO2 could superficially suggest an oxygenated carbon, it lacks the structure necessary to define acetic acid correctly. C2H4O2, while very similar to the correct formula, generally represents the same compound but does not distinguish the functional groups involved. Lastly, CH3COO pertains to the acetate ion, which is indeed related to acetic acid but represents the deprotonated form rather than the neutral acid itself. Therefore, CH3COOH is the precise representation of acetic