C20H20O4

C20H20O4 is a molecular formula representing compounds that collectively contain 20 carbon atoms, 20 hydrogen atoms, and four oxygen atoms. Because different arrangements of the same atoms (isomers) can produce distinct substances, C20H20O4 does not denote a single compound but a family of possible structures.

The calculated molar mass is approximately 324.38 g/mol. The formula corresponds to 11 degrees of unsaturation, indicating a substantial level of ring or double-bond connectivity, which is typical of polycyclic aromatic systems or carbonyl-containing frameworks.

With four oxygen atoms, functional groups such as carbonyls, esters, ethers, or phenolic groups are possible, and the overall structure may range from linear to highly fused ring systems. The specific arrangement determines physical properties like solubility, color, and reactivity.

In practice, C20H20O4 may appear in contexts such as synthetic intermediates, natural products with extended aromatic systems, dyes, or fragrance-related compounds. The formula alone cannot identify the exact substance.

Identification and characterization rely on spectroscopic data (for example, 1H and 13C NMR, IR, UV-Vis) and mass spectrometry, alongside comparisons to database entries in resources such as Chemical Abstracts, PubChem, or Reaxys. When a particular compound is of interest, a structural name or SMILES string should be provided.