Methyl Acetate IUPAC Name
Methyl acetate is an ester known as MeOAc or methyl ester of acetic acid. The IUPAC name of methyl acetate is methyl ethanoate. This organic compound remains as a colorless liquid or vapor. However, the compound is toxic and only used as a solvent occasionally. It is weakly polar and does not readily dissolve in water. When heated its solubility in water increases, considerably. Methyl acetate is lipophilic and dissolves with fats. Methyl ethanoate is unstable in the presence of strong aqueous acids, or bases. The compound hydrolyzes in presence of strong acids and bases to give methanol and acetic acid. The conversion to its components is a first-order reaction of an ester concerning acid.
Methyl Acetate Structure
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Methyl Acetate Formula
Methyl acetate molecular weight: 74.08 g/mol
Methyl acetate chemical formula: C3H6O2
It appears as a clear colorless liquid with a pleasant fruity fragrance. It is volatile.
Methyl acetate boiling point: 56.80C
Methyl acetate melting point: -98.0oC
It is soluble in water. Solubility: 250C
It is also miscible with alcohol and ether, especially in ethyl ether and ethanol.
Methyl acetate density: 0.9342 g/cu cm at 200C
Methyl acetate vapor pressure: 216.2 mm Hg at 250C
Refractive index: 1.3614 at 200C
It decomposes upon heating or contact with air, bases, strong oxidizers, UV light and emits acrid smoke and toxic fumes when heated.
Methyl Acetate Uses
Methyl acetate is used as a flavoring agent in the form of a food additive. It is also used as a flavoring agent in various alcoholic beverages.
In the food industry, it is used in baking goods, gelatins, puddings, frozen dairy, and baked goods.
It is used as a solvent for many resins and oils such as nitrocellulose, acetyl cellulose, etc.
In industries, it is used as an adhesive, lubricants and lubricant additives, pigments, paint and coating additives, etc.
It is also used in electrical and electronic products, furnishing and cleaning products, floor coverings, ink, toner, and colorant products, etc.
It is used as a solvent for cleaning and degreasing purposes.
Production of Methyl Acetate
Methyl acetate can be prepared by the esterification reaction acetic acid with methanol at elevated temperature in presence of an esterification catalyst which can be strong acids like sulfuric acid.
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This reaction is done by the process of reactive distillation, where the separation of products of reaction does not need a separate distillation step.
The process includes constant feeding of methanol, acetic acid, and entrainer to the reaction kettle.
Here, reaction products are constantly removed from the reactive zone to increase the conversion. This production process was made popular by Eastman kodak.
For industrial purposes, methyl acetate is produced by the carbonylation of methanol as a byproduct of the acetic acid synthesis.
Hydrolysis of Methyl Acetate
Acid Hydrolysis of Methyl Acetate:
Methyl ethanoate or ethyl acetate, being an ester, hydrolysis to produce acetic acid and methyl alcohol when it is heated in the presence of an acid. The acid acts as a catalyst. The water molecule provides the -OH group to convert the carbonyl group present to a carboxyl group.
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Basic Hydrolysis of Methyl Acetate:
The basic hydrolysis of methyl acetate is also known as the saponification reaction of esters. In the reaction, when methyl acetate is heated in presence of a strong base such as NaOH it breaks down to give sodium salt of acetate ion and methyl alcohol.
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FAQs on Methyl Acetate
Q1. What are the Health Hazards of Methyl Acetate?
Methyl acetate is highly flammable both in liquid and vapor form. It has adverse effects on human health upon exposure.
The inhalation of the vapor causes headache, drowsiness, dizziness, effects similar to methyl alcohol.
The liquid form can cause eye irritation if exposed. It is also a skin irritant and can cause cracking and defatting of skin.
A higher concentration of methyl acetate if inhaled can cause respiratory tract, nose, and throat irritation. Higher concentrations may also cause central nervous system depression and eye damage.
The compound is highly flammable and may travel through the air in vapor form, to a distant source of ignition and ignites. It may cause a fire hazard if exposed to flame or heat. If ignited it releases toxic, irritating fumes of gases.
Q2. What are the Similarities Between Methyl Acetate and Ethyl Acetate? How Can They be Distinguished?
Methyl acetate and Ethyl acetate are closely related and hard to distinguish. Both organic compounds have chemical and physical properties closely related to each other. They are both carboxylate esters and both are colorless liquids at room temperature. Both have a fruity, pleasant odor and are highly flammable. However, the compounds can be distinguished from one another via the iodoform test.
Methyl acetate on hydrolysis gives 2 moles of acetic acid. When the hydrolysis reaction is followed by I2/NaOH i.e iodoform reaction, it does not give a yellow precipitate.
Ethyl acetate when hydrolyzed gives acetic acid and ethyl alcohol. The hydrolysis when followed by I2/NaOH i.e. iodoform reaction, gives a yellow precipitate.
