C3H3O3

C3H3O3 is a molecular formula representing compounds that contain three carbon atoms, three hydrogen atoms, and three oxygen atoms. It is not a single, well-defined substance but rather a set of possible isomers that share the same composition.

The formula can correspond to multiple structural classes, including both open-chain and cyclic forms. Possible motifs could involve carbonyl-containing groups (such as esters or ketone-like units), cyclic esters (lactones), or peroxide- and anhydride-type linkages. Because the hydrogen count is relatively low for three carbons, many plausible structures would be highly unsaturated, potentially radical in character, or exist as charged species. In practice, C3H3O3 is most often discussed in theoretical contexts or as a mass-spectral composition rather than as a common, isolable compound.

Physical properties for any given isomer of C3H3O3 would vary widely. There is no standard melting or boiling point, density, or refractive index associated with the formula as a whole, since these depend on the specific arrangement of atoms and functional groups. Many potential isomers would be reactive or transient, limiting their stability under ordinary conditions.

In research and chemical databases, C3H3O3 serves as a formula used in composition searches and theoretical studies. When a particular isomer is identified, its properties and reactivity are determined by that structure rather than by the generic formula.

See also: molecular formula, isomer, mass spectrometry, organic chemistry nomenclature.