Ethyl Acetate Formula

Ethyl Acetate Formula

The organic molecule ethyl acetate (systematically ethyl ethanoate, frequently abbreviated EtOAc, ETAC, or EA) has the formula CH₃COOCH₂CH₃, simplified to C₄H₈O₂. 

Ethyl acetate (C₄H₈O₂) is a colourless, aromatic, volatile, flammable liquid ester that is employed as a solvent.

Structure of Ethyl acetate

Synthesis of Ethyl acetate 

The acetate ester produced by acetic acid and ethanol is ethyl acetate. It functions as a polar aprotic solvent, an inhibitor of EC 3.4.19.3 (pyroglutamyl-peptidase I), a metabolite, and a metabolite of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is a volatile organic compound that is an acetate ester, an ethyl ester, and an acetate ester.

Chemical reaction of Ethyl acetate

The Lewis basicity of ethyl acetate is only moderate. With I2, phenol, and bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper, it forms 1:1 adducts (II).

When ethyl acetate is hydrolyzed, acetic acid and ethanol are produced. Bases speed up the hydrolysis, which is subject to the above-mentioned Fischer equilibrium. 

Ethyl esters are routinely hydrolyzed in a two-step method in the laboratory, usually for illustrative purposes only, commencing with a stoichiometric quantity of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide. This process produces ethanol as well as sodium acetate, which is inert to ethanol:

CH₃CO₂C₂H₅ + NaOH → C₂H₅OH + CH₃CO₂Na

Strong bases cause the Claisen condensation to produce ethyl acetoacetate under anhydrous conditions:

Uses of Ethyl acetate

Because of its inexpensive cost, low toxicity, and pleasant odour, ethyl acetate is commonly employed as a solvent and diluent.  It’s often used to clean circuit boards and in various nail polish removers, for example (acetone is also used). This solvent is used to decaffeinate coffee beans and tea leaves (when supercritical CO₂ extraction is not possible). Confectionery, fragrances, and fruits all contain ethyl acetate. It evaporates swiftly in perfumes, leaving the perfume’s aroma on the skin.

Solved Examples

Q.1 Determine the molar mass of ethyl acetate.

Solution: Ethyl acetate has the formula C₄H₈O₂. The molecule of ethyl acetate is made up of 8 hydrogen atoms, 4 carbon atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms, for a total of 14 atoms (s). The sum of the atomic weights of each constituent element multiplied by the number of atoms determines the molecular weight of this solvent.

C=12, H=1, O=16 are the relative atomic masses of each element.

As a result, C= 12× 4=48, H= 1× 8=8, and O= 16× 2=32.

As a result, the molecular weight is 48+8+32= 88 grams per mol.

Q. 2: What is Ethyl acetate’s IUPAC name? What is the definition of hydrolysis?

Solution: The IUPAC nomenclature for ethyl acetate is ethyl ethanoate, with the “Ethyl” component coming from ethanol and the “Ethanoate” part coming from ethanoic acid.

It’s a chemical reaction in which a bond is broken, and water is introduced. In this ester (ethyl acetate), hydrolysis with an alkali revealed the presence of HCl (sodium hydroxide).