Methyl acetate
Methyl ethanoate, an ester with different methyl environments.
- Formula
- C3H6O2
- Functional group
- Esters
- Molar mass
- 74.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- Devoton, Tereton, Methyl ethanoate, Acetic acid, methyl ester, Acetic acid methyl ester, Methylacetat
Overview
Methyl ethanoate, an ester with different methyl environments.
One methyl group is bonded to the carbonyl carbon and the other through oxygen. Hydrolysis gives methanol and ethanoic acid or ethanoate. The two methyl groups are not chemically equivalent even though both contain three hydrogens.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C3H6O2
- Functional group
- Esters
- Molar mass
- 74.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- Devoton, Tereton, Methyl ethanoate, Acetic acid, methyl ester, Acetic acid methyl ester, Methylacetat
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CC(=O)OC
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C3H6O2/c1-3(4)5-2/h1-2H3
- PubChem CID
- 6584
Properties
- Melting Point
- -98.2 °C
- Boiling Point
- 56.7 °C
- Density
- 0.9342 g/cu cm at 20 °C
- Water solubility
- In water, 2.43X10+5 mg/L at 20 °C
Diagnostic tests
Neutral-ester acid-group comparison
- Reagent
- aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate
- Conditions
- Brief room-temperature comparison before any deliberate ester hydrolysis.
- Positive observation
- Effervescence can indicate a free acid component.
- Negative observation
- Pure methyl acetate gives no acid-driven effervescence.
- Interpretation
- Esterification removes the carboxylic-acid proton tested by this reagent.
- Scope
- Expected negative for methyl acetate.
- Limitations
- Interpret the negative response alongside acidity and hydrolysis conditions.
- Evidence
- established acid–base chemistry
Related compounds
- Esters
Methyl ethanoate, an ester with different methyl environments.
Connected reactions
- Esterification: Methanol → Methyl acetate
Methanol attacks an acid-activated carbonyl; proton transfers and water loss give methyl acetate. The ester oxygen linking to the methyl group comes from the alcohol.
- Acid hydrolysis: Methyl acetate → Ethanoic acid
Water adds to the protonated ester carbonyl. Proton transfer allows methanol to leave as the carbonyl reforms, producing the acid and alcohol together.
- Acid hydrolysis: Methyl acetate → Methanol
Water adds to the protonated ester carbonyl. Proton transfer allows methanol to leave as the carbonyl reforms, producing the acid and alcohol together.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Methyl acetate (CID 6584)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.
- OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Chemistry of estersJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023
Supports the qualitative structural interpretation of the recorded molecular structure; no new physical measurement or verified preparative yield is claimed.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methyl acetate — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6584#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-354
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methyl acetate — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6584#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-354
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methyl acetate — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6584#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-354
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methyl acetate — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6584#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Stephen H, Stephen T; Solubilities of Inorganic and Organic Compounds in Binary Systems. Stephen H et al, eds., New York, NY: The MacMillan Co, 1: 1-79, 1604-43 (1963)
- Compound confusion: acid and ester comparisonsRoyal Society of Chemistry · RSC Education
Source-supported qualitative reference observations.