CH3CHOH2

CH3CHOH2 is a condensed structural form that is sometimes encountered as a representation related to ethanol, but it is not a standard or widely used designation for a distinct compound. The more common and unambiguous identifiers are ethanol, with the formula C2H6O, or CH3CH2OH. Ethanol is a two-carbon alcohol and the simplest member of the alcohol series. It exists as a colorless liquid at room temperature and is miscible with water.

The molecular structure of ethanol features a two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group on the terminal carbon, giving the formula CH3-CH2-OH. The molecule is polar due to the hydroxyl group, enabling hydrogen bonding that influences its physical properties and solvent behavior. Ethanol has a boiling point of 78.37 °C, a density of about 0.789 g/mL at 20 °C, and a flash point around 13 °C. Its solvent properties make it widely used in pharmaceuticals, coatings, inks, and personal care products.

Industrial production of ethanol is achieved primarily by two routes: fermentation of sugars by yeast, producing beverage-grade ethanol, and industrial hydration of ethylene using acid catalysts, which yields high-purity ethanol for chemical use. Ethanol can be dehydrated to form ethene, oxidized to acetaldehyde and then acetic acid, and a wide range of esters and ether derivatives can be prepared from it. It also forms esters with carboxylic acids and participates in substitution and oxidation reactions typical of alcohols.

Safety considerations include flammability and potential health effects from inhalation or ingestion. Ethanol is widely used and studied, with extensive data on its physical properties, reactions, and handling guidelines.