What is the chemical formula for ethanol?

Ethanol, commonly known as alcohol, is an organic compound that falls under the category of simple alcohols. Its IUPAC name is ethyl alcohol, and its molecular structure consists of a two-carbon alkyl group, specifically ethyl (C2H5), combined with a hydroxyl group (OH).

When we combine these components—two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom—the complete chemical formula can be represented as C2H5OH. This formula captures both the alkyl portion (C2H5) and the functional group (OH) that characterizes alcohols.

The other options do not accurately represent ethanol’s structure: C2H6O suggests an additional hydrogen atom without the proper placement of the hydroxyl group; C2H4O indicates one less hydrogen than is present in ethanol; and C2H3OH totals two fewer hydrogen atoms than are in ethanol. Therefore, C2H5OH is the only correct representation, clearly identifying it as ethanol.