Functional Group:

(What is “R” ?)

Ester Properties

• Soluble in polar solvents
• Forms hydrogen bonds, but only in a hydrogen bonding solvent
• Often fragrant – many flavor and fragrance molecules are esters, including molecules in many fruits and flowers.
• Esters can participate in many types of chemical reactions.
• Can be polymerized to create polyester and many other polymers, including some types of plastics

Notable Esters

• Fats are esters.

• This ester is important, because it is part of raspberry’s flavor:

• Check out this interesting list of fragrant esters

Naming Esters

For Mr. Niemitalo’s General Chemistry class, just be able to identify ester functional groups. You don’t need to name any esters.

There are lots of ways to name esters (seen here), but we won’t name esters in General Chemistry.

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