Use the table to answer the question.

Question

Atom Color in
Molecular Model
hydrogen (H) white
oxygen (O) red
nitrogen (N) blue
carbon (C) gray
Which option correctly describes a model of methanol, CH3OH?

(1 point)
Responses

one gray sphere, three white spheres, one red sphere, one blue sphere
one gray sphere, three white spheres, one red sphere, one blue sphere

one gray sphere, four white spheres, one red sphere
one gray sphere, four white spheres, one red sphere

one blue sphere, four white spheres, one red sphere
one blue sphere, four white spheres, one red sphere

two red spheres, four white spheres

Answer 1

To determine the correct molecular model of methanol (CH₃OH), we can break down its molecular formula:

• C (carbon): 1 atom, represented by 1 gray sphere
• H (hydrogen): 3 atoms, represented by 3 white spheres
• O (oxygen): 1 atom, represented by 1 red sphere

Based on this, a model of methanol would consist of:

• One gray sphere (for carbon)
• Three white spheres (for hydrogen)
• One red sphere (for oxygen)

There are no nitrogen atoms in methanol, so the options that include blue spheres or two red spheres are incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is:

one gray sphere, four white spheres, one red sphere (Despite this option being a bit misleading; it inaccurately counts hydrogen atoms. Methanol contains 3 hydrogen atoms, not 4).

So, technically the best option available would be: one gray sphere, three white spheres, one red sphere if it were present as an option. However, since this is not in your responses, please select:

one gray sphere, four white spheres, one red sphere for what fits correctly in the table format you provided, assuming a minor typographical error in the count of hydrogens.