Not ether + ketone
The two oxygens belong to one coupled functional group.
The ester carbonyl and single-bond oxygen influence each other electronically.
Molecular compound · ester
Ethyl acetate
C₄H₈O₂
Ethyl acetate is C₄H₈O₂ with the condensed structure CH₃COOCH₂CH₃. The ester group contains a carbonyl carbon directly bonded to an oxygen that continues into an ethyl group.
Name note: ethyl acetate and ethyl ethanoate name the same compound.
Essentials
The defining motif is –C(=O)–O–.
The condensed structure shows a carbonyl oxygen and a second oxygen in the same functional group. That is the core ester pattern.
Detail
The source-derived structure fixes which oxygen is attached to the ethyl group.
Connectivity distinguishes ethyl acetate from other C₄H₈O₂ isomers. The flat skeletal representation is a map of bonds, not a rigid conformation.
Polarity
The ester group is polar but has no O–H donor.
Both oxygen atoms influence intermolecular interactions, while the molecule lacks a hydroxyl hydrogen.
Understand
Hydrolysis reverses ester formation at the level of overall stoichiometry.
Adding water can convert ethyl acetate into acetic acid and ethanol under suitable catalytic conditions. The equation is reversible and does not imply a one-step uncatalyzed mechanism.
Linked concepts
This page connects directly to the ethanol and acetic-acid masters.
Hydrolysis changes the ester connectivity back into an alcohol and carboxylic acid.
Reference identifiers
Names and identifiers that pin down the chemical identity.
| Formula | C₄H₈O₂ / CH₃COOC₂H₅ |
|---|---|
| CAS Registry Number | 141-78-6 |
| PubChem CID | 8857 |
Advanced
Push past the first model without losing the simple picture.
Is ethyl acetate a mixture of ethanol and acetic acid?
No. It is a distinct compound with new covalent connectivity.
Why is hydrolysis often catalyzed?
Breaking and forming acyl–oxygen bonds has a significant activation barrier; acid or base changes the pathway.
Does C₄H₈O₂ uniquely specify ethyl acetate?
No. Several constitutional isomers share that molecular formula.
Constituent elements