Ester

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Ethyl acetate, a small ester.

In chemistry, an ester is a chemical compound that contains a carbonyl functionality attached to an alkoxide. Esters are widely used in the food industry as artificial flavors. Small esters can be used as solvents. Esters are generally synthesized from in a condensation reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

ester synthesis

The ester ethyl acetate (shown in the figure) can be produced from the condensation reaction between acetic acid and ethanol.