Question

What does the letter R symbolize in a structural formula, such as RCOOH?

Answer 1

R means there's a number of carbon in the chain.

Step-by-step explanation:

For example RCOOH means that after x number of carbon, the chain ends with COOH.

Answer 2

The correct answer is "a radical formed by carbons".

Step-by-step explanation:

Carboxylic acids are a group of compounds characterized by a functional group called the carboxyl group. In a structural formula of a carboxylic acid, such as RCOOH, R symbolizes the existence of a radical formed by a certain amount of carbons attached to the functional group called the carboxyl group (COOH).

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