C3H5O3

C3H5O3 is a chemical formula that denotes three carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, and three oxygen atoms. In standard organic chemistry, the formula cannot correspond to a neutral, closed-shell molecule because its degree of unsaturation would be fractional. Specifically, the calculation yields a double bond equivalent (DBE) of 1.5, which is not possible for a neutral compound. As a result, there is no widely recognized neutral substance with this exact formula.

In practice, C3H5O3 is typically encountered as an ion, a radical, or a fragment rather than as a standalone neutral reagent. The notation may refer to charged species such as C3H5O3− or C3H5O3+ depending on the context, with the precise structure depending on where the charge resides and how the atoms are arranged.

Because the formula does not define a unique neutral structure, several isomeric arrangements could in principle exist if the molecule is ionized or radicalized. In databases and analytical contexts, C3H5O3 often appears as a fragment identifier in mass spectrometry data or as part of larger, more complex ions and molecules rather than as an independent, isolable compound.

The nominal molecular mass of C3H5O3 is approximately 89.0 atomic mass units. When encountered, users should verify the chemical context to determine whether the formula represents a fragment, an ion, or a transient radical rather than a defined neutral substance.