Final answer:
The condensed structural formula is popular as it simplifies chemical structures while providing essential bonding information, making it suitable for organic reactions and the study of compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condensed structural formula is favored by many because it simplifies chemical structures while still providing key bonding information. While the molecular formula only gives the number of each type of atom, a condensed structural formula suggests how these atoms are bonded without the use of drawing lines for bonds. It provides a convenient shorthand notation that can make it easier to understand the composition of a molecule, especially as molecules become larger and more complex. An example of this is the condensed structural formula for methanol, CH3OH, which reveals the bonding arrangement of atoms without all the details of the complete structural representation.
Chemists opt for condensed structural formulas because they are much easier to write and take up less space, which becomes increasingly beneficial as the number of atoms in a molecule grows. Moreover, these formulas provide enough detail to suggest the molecule's structural layout, which is essential for studying organic reactions and comprehending the behavior of compounds. Occasionally, when a detailed visualization is necessary, ball-and-stick or space-filling models are used to show the three-dimensional structure of molecules.