Writing structural formulae

[DumbIdiot]

I wanted to know what the correct way of writing it is, for example for compounds having a functional group on the first carbon atom what is the right way of writing: HOCH2CH3 or CH2(OH)CH3. Is the second one acceptable way of writing because I always see the first one in the ms. Please tell for aldehydes and carboxylic acids also

 

[étudiante]

I wanted to know what the correct way of writing it is, for example for compounds having a functional group on the first carbon atom what is the right way of writing: HOCH2CH3 or CH2(OH)CH3. Is the second one acceptable way of writing because I always see the first one in the ms. Please tell for aldehydes and carboxylic acids also

On the first carbon, it doesn't matter either way The parantheses mean that the group inside is a branch. so for aldehydes you can write R-CHO and for carboxyllic acid you can write it as R-COOH