C15H10O2

C15H10O2 is an empirical molecular formula representing chemical substances composed of 15 carbon atoms, 10 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. It is used in chemical databases and analysis to denote a class of compounds that share this exact elemental composition.

With 15 carbons and 10 hydrogens and two oxygens, the degrees of unsaturation for C15H10O2 is 11. This high level of unsaturation indicates that any compounds with this formula are highly conjugated and likely feature multiple rings and/or carbonyl or other oxygen-containing functional groups. The two oxygen atoms can appear in various configurations, commonly as carbonyl groups in quinones or related polycyclic systems, as well as in lactones or other carbonyl-containing motifs. Consequently, many constitutional (structural) isomers fit the formula, often arising from different arrangements of fused aromatic rings and carbonyl functionalities.

In practice, C15H10O2 covers a range of polycyclic aromatic compounds, including various quinone- or benzoquinone-like structures within fused ring systems. The exact properties—melting point, solubility, reactivity, and spectral characteristics—depend on the specific arrangement of rings and oxygen-containing groups. The formula is useful for mass spectrometry and formula-based searching, enabling researchers to infer possible structures or to narrow down candidates when only the elemental composition is known.

Safety and handling depend on the particular compound, but broadly, compounds with high degrees of unsaturation and quinone-like functionality can be reactive and potentially hazardous. Further identification requires structural data.