What is the IUPAC name for CH3COOH?

The correct IUPAC name for CH3COOH is acetic acid. This compound, commonly recognized as vinegar, consists of a two-carbon chain where a carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH) is attached to one end.

In the structure of acetic acid, the carbon atom in the carboxyl group is bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH) and double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O), characteristic of carboxylic acids. The remaining carbon is connected to three hydrogen atoms, making the overall molecular formula CH3COOH, which can also be represented as C2H4O2.

Acetic acid is an important organic compound in both industrial and biological contexts. It is formed during fermentation and plays a critical role in metabolic processes. The name “acetic” derives from the Latin word "acetum," meaning vinegar.

Other choices represent different compounds: methanol, for example, is a one-carbon alcohol (CH3OH); formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid (HCOOH) containing just one carbon; and propanoic acid (C2H5COOH) has three carbons. Thus, the identification of CH3COOH as