Butyric acid, for example, has C3H7COOH or CH3CH2CH2CO2H or C4H8O2 (This one also applies to ethyl acetate). Are there different methods for writing formulas?
In: Chemistry
It depends on where a person wants to put “emphasis”.
C3H7COOH draws a person’s attention to the COOH [functional group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_group) that gives the chemical its carboxylic acid properties.
CH3CH2CH2CO2H is like a text version of the chemical structure.
C4H8O2 counts the atoms in the molecule but obscures the structure, which means it could also refer to the chemical isomer, isobutyric acid.
Latest Answers