The molecular formula of the compound CH2 is the simplest representation of the number and type of atoms present in a molecule. In this formula, ‘C’ stands for carbon and ‘H’ stands for hydrogen. The subscript ‘2’ indicates that there are two hydrogen atoms for every one carbon atom in the molecule.
CH2 is known as methylene. It is not typically found as a stable, standalone compound; rather, it is often part of larger molecules such as alkenes. For example, in ethylene (C2H4, also known as ethene), the presence of CH2 groups can be observed as part of the overall structure. Understanding the molecular formula helps in identifying the composition of the molecule and is essential in fields like organic chemistry and biochemistry.