C14H8O

C14H8O is a molecular formula representing a family of organic compounds that contain 14 carbon atoms, 8 hydrogen atoms, and a single oxygen atom. It does not specify a single structure; many structural isomers share this formula and are studied in polycyclic aromatic chemistry.

Because of the high degree of unsaturation implied by C14H8O (the degree of unsaturation is 11), most isomers are polycyclic aromatic systems. The single oxygen atom most commonly appears as a carbonyl group in a ketone or as part of a heterocyclic ring or ether linkage, but the exact arrangement of rings and the position of the oxygen vary widely between isomers.

One well-documented isomer is anthracene-9-one (anthracen-9-one), a ketone derived from anthracene with formula C14H8O, illustrating how the formula can correspond to a specific polycyclic ketone. Other isomers may feature the same carbon and hydrogen counts but different ring connectivities and functional-group placements, including alternative ketone, ether, or hydroxy-derivative patterns.

Synthesis and properties depend on the exact isomer; many C14H8O compounds are synthetic in nature and are studied for insights into aromatic oxidation, photophysics, or materials chemistry. Analytical characterization typically employs mass spectrometry to confirm a molecular weight of about 192.2 g/mol, infrared spectroscopy to identify carbonyl or ether functionalities, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine structure. X-ray crystallography may be used for definitive structural determination when suitable crystals are obtained.