Determine the correct molecular formula for epinephrine, whose structure is shown below.

Step-by-step solution

From the given structure of epinephrine, we count the number of each type of atom present in the molecule. Carbon (C) atoms: 6 from the benzene ring, 1 from the - CH ( OH )- group, 1 from the - CH ₂- group, and 1 from the - CH ₃ group. Total C = 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9 . Hydrogen (H) atoms: 3 attached directly to the benzene ring, 2 in the phenolic - OH groups, 1 in the aliphatic - OH group, 1 on the chiral carbon ( - CH - ), 2 in the methylene group ( - CH ₂- ), 1 in the amine group ( - NH - ), and 3 in the methyl group