Final answer:
The condensed structural formula of ethanol is CH3CH2OH, which indicates a two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group attached.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condensed structural formula of ethanol is CH3CH2OH. This representation omits the lines representing bonds between atoms and lists the atoms bonded to a given atom next to it. For ethanol, the formula indicates that the molecule contains a two-carbon chain (ethane), where one hydrogen atom in methane (CH4) is replaced by a hydroxyl group (OH). This formula details that there are two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom within the molecule of ethanol. Condensed structural formulas are simplified indications of a molecule's structure, which include all the atoms in the molecule and suggest how they are connected.