What is the chemical symbol for beverage alcohol?

The chemical symbol for beverage alcohol is represented as C2H5OH, which indicates that it is an ethanol molecule. This molecular formula identifies ethanol as having two carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom, making it the type of alcohol typically found in alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, the other form, ETOH, is a common shorthand notation used to represent ethanol but does not describe the molecular structure as clearly. While both C2H5OH and ETOH refer to ethanol, C2H5OH provides a complete representation of its molecular composition, distinguishing it as the more precise answer in this context. Choices like CH3OH indicate methanol, which is not acceptable for consumption, and CO2 represents carbon dioxide, which is not related to alcohol at all. Understanding the chemical structure of ethanol helps clarify why C2H5OH is the correct representation of beverage alcohol.