The key difference between ethyl acetate and methyl acetate is that methyl acetate has a methyl group attached to an acetate group whereas ethyl acetate has an ethyl group attached to an acetate group.
Ethyl acetate is the acetate ester formed between acetic acid and ethanol. It has a role as a polar aprotic solvent. It is an acetate ester, an ethyl ester and a volatile organic compound. Ethyl acetate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a fruity odor. The flash point is minus 4 degrees. It is less dense than water. Vapors are heavier than air. Ethyl acetate is a natural product found in some organisms.
Ethyl acetate is a widely used solvent, especially for paints, varnishes, lacquers, cleaning mixtures and perfumes. In the laboratory, ethyl acetate is a common solvent for column and thin layer chromatography.
In industry, ethyl acetate is commonly synthesized by the reaction of ethanol and acetic acid. According to the mechanism of the reaction, acid and low water content can accelerate or promote the reaction.
Methyl acetate is a carboxylate ester. It is a clear, colorless liquid with a typical ester odor similar to glues and nail polish removers. It is highly flammable with a flash point of minus 10 degrees and a flammability rating of 3 degrees. Methyl acetate is widely used in low-toxicity solvents such as adhesives, nail polish removers. It is highly miscible with all common organic solvents (e.g. alcohols, ketones, glycols and esters) but very poorly miscible in water. It becomes more soluble in water at high temperatures. It is commonly found in fruits such as apples, grapes and bananas.
There are several methods of producing methyl acetate. One of the industrially used is by carbonylation. Such reactions bring together carbon monoxide substrates. To produce methyl acetate, methanol is heated together with acetic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid. Another production method is the esterification of methanol and acetic acid in the presence of a strong acid. Sulfuric acid is a common catalyst also used in this reaction.
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