What is the structure of methyl alcohol?

What is the structure of methyl alcohol?

• A. CH₃OH
• B. CH₃CH₃
• C. CH(CH₃)₂OH
• D. CH₃OCH₃

Answer: (A)

Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, has the chemical formula CH₃OH. This structure consists of a single carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group (–OH). The carbon atom serves as the central atom to which the hydroxyl group is also attached, making it an alcohol. In the context of the other choices, CH₃CH₃ refers to ethane, which is a simple alkane with two carbon atoms and no functional groups. CH(CH₃)₂OH represents isopropyl alcohol, where the structure contains a branched carbon chain, making it a different alcohol (specifically, propanol) with three carbon atoms. Finally, CH₃OCH₃ describes dimethyl ether, an ether rather than an alcohol, as it contains oxygen between two carbon units without the hydroxyl group that characterizes alcohols. Thus, the correct answer reflects the simple and direct structure of methyl alcohol, highlighting its essential characteristics as the simplest alcohol.

Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, has the chemical formula CH₃OH. This structure consists of a single carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group (–OH). The carbon atom serves as the central atom to which the hydroxyl group is also attached, making it an alcohol.

In the context of the other choices, CH₃CH₃ refers to ethane, which is a simple alkane with two carbon atoms and no functional groups. CH(CH₃)₂OH represents isopropyl alcohol, where the structure contains a branched carbon chain, making it a different alcohol (specifically, propanol) with three carbon atoms. Finally, CH₃OCH₃ describes dimethyl ether, an ether rather than an alcohol, as it contains oxygen between two carbon units without the hydroxyl group that characterizes alcohols.

Thus, the correct answer reflects the simple and direct structure of methyl alcohol, highlighting its essential characteristics as the simplest alcohol.