Does anyone know what the . CH3COOH means underneath the structure below?
- The “·” (dot) denotes a non-covalent association between the main compound and another molecule—in this case, acetic acid (CH₃COOH).
- This means that one molecule of acetic acid is co-crystallized or co-formulated with the main compound but is not covalently bonded to it.
It simply means the compound is associated with acetic acid (CH₃COOH).
In most cases, this indicates the compound is present as an acetate salt or has been isolated with acetic acid. The acetic acid is not part of the chemical structure—it’s just the form in which the compound exists.
In short: “. CH₃COOH” shows the salt/associated form, not a bonded group.