Ethyl Acetate
What Is Ethyl Acetate?
Ethyl acetate is a clear colorless liquid with a fruity odor and taste. It’s often used as a polar aprotic solvent, an EC 3.4.19.3 (pyroglutamyl-peptidase I) inhibitor, a metabolite, and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite. Ethyl acetate dissolves in water and quickly evaporates from soil surfaces. It’s considered a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Exposure to ethyl acetate occurs when eating, drinking, breathing, and smoking. It can be found in wines and brandy and is formed during beer fermentation. Ethyl acetate is also found in kiwi fruit, guava, roasted filberts, blue cheese, baked potatoes, and essential oils.
Though ethyl acetate is biodegradable, its vapors can cause mild eye, nose, and throat irritation at concentrations above 400 ppm. Breathing high concentrations of ethyl acetate may cause weakness, drowsiness, and unconsciousness. The potential for ethyl acetate to cause cancer in humans has not been assessed by the EPA IRIS program, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or the U.S. National Toxicology Program.
Synonyms: Ethyl ethanoate, acetic acid ethyl ester, acetoxyethane, acetic ether, ethyl acetic ester, vinegar naphtha, acetic acid, ethyl ester, acetidin
Physical and Chemical Properties
| Property | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Molecular Weight | 88.11 g/mol | ||
Density | 0.9003 g/mL at 20oC | ||
Boiling Point | 77.1oC | ||
Melting Point | -83.6oC | ||
Flash Point | -4oC | ||
Viscosity | 0.423 mPa·s at 25°C | ||
Dielectric Constant | 6.02 | ||
Dipole Moment | 1.708 | ||
UV Cutoff | 256 nm | ||
Refractive Index | 1.3723 at 20oC | ||
Vapor Pressure | 93.2 mm Hg (25°C) | ||
Vapor Density | 3.04 (vs. air) | ||
Water Solubility | 80 mg/mL at 25°C | ||
Heat of Combustion | 2238.1 kJ/mol | ||
Heat of Vaporization | 35.60 kJ/mol at 25°C | ||
Surface Tension | 24 dyn/cm at 20°C |
How Is Ethyl Acetate Used?
Ethyl acetate occurs naturally in food. It’s used in tobacco and adds an artificial fruit flavor. In other industries, ethyl acetate is used to make imitation leather and textiles, perfumes, photography films, and contact lenses.
Designations and Grades
| Property | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
CAS Number | 141-78-6 | ||
MDL Number | MFCD00009171 | ||
RIDAD/UN Number | UN1173 | ||
Beilstein Registry | 506104 | ||
EG/EC Number | 205-500-4 | ||
NSC Number | 70930 | ||
ICSC Number | 0367 | ||
RTECS Number | AH5425000 |
Grades
ACS/ACS Reagent/Certified ACS
Anhydrous/Dry/Extra Dry/Molecular Sieve
Biochemical
Electronic
Environmental
FCC
GC/Pesticide Residue
HPLC/UHPLC
Laboratory/Technical
NF/BP/EP/JP/USP
Sequencing
Spectrophotometry
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