Two C atoms, four H atoms, and two O atoms can also be arranged to form a methyl formate, which is used in manufacturing, as an insecticide, and for quick-drying finishes. Methyl formate molecules have one of the oxygen atoms between the two carbon atoms, differing from the arrangement in acetic acid molecules.
The information that the coefficients of a balanced equation give about the reactants are to tell how many moles of reactants are needed and how many moles of product can be produced.
