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Structural Formula or.....normal? Formula

Hi

I was asked to write the equation for a reaction between Pentanoic acid and ethanol.

In the markscheme the answer is in the structural formula, even though this wasn't specified in the question.

Is the shorthand formula just as correct?

Reply 1

Rainbow249

Original post by SteveCrain

What exactly do you mean shorthand, eg C₅H₁₀O₂? If the question didn't specify, you should be fine; what did the question ask for? In the real exam, to be safe, get in the habit of writing full structural for simple structures, but don't use that one for skeletal.