Propyl acetate, also known as propyl ethanoate, is an

organic compound Some chemical authorities define an organic compound as a chemical compound that contains a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond; others consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. For example, carbon-co ...

. Nearly 20,000 tons are produced annually for use as a

solvent A solvent (from the Latin language, Latin ''wikt:solvo#Latin, solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a Solution (chemistry), solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas ...

. This colorless liquid is known by its characteristic odor of pears. Due to this fact, it is commonly used in fragrances and as a flavor additive. It is formed by the

esterification In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group () of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (R). These compounds contain a distin ...

acetic acid Acetic acid , systematically named ethanoic acid , is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula (also written as , , or ). Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main compone ...

and propan-1-ol, often via

Fischer–Speier esterification Fischer esterification or Fischer–Speier esterification is a special type of esterification by refluxing a carboxylic acid and an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction was first described by Emil Fischer ...

, with

sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid (American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphuric acid (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth spelling), known in antiquity as oil of vitriol, is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen, ...

as a catalyst and water produced as a byproduct.

References

External links

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- Toxicity Data
N-Propyl Acetate MSDS
{{ester-stub Ester solvents Flavors Acetate esters Sweet-smelling chemicals Propyl esters