Whether ethyl acetate is a polar proton solvent

is related to various reactions, among which polar proton or not is particularly critical. In order to distinguish whether ethyl acetate is a polar proton solvent, its structure and properties should be investigated in detail. For

ethyl acetate, its molecular formula is $C_ {4} H_ {8} O_ {2} $, and its structural formula is $CH_ {3} COOCH_ {2} CH_ {3} $. Looking at its structure, it is formed by connecting an acetyl group with an ethoxy group. Although the molecule contains carbonyl groups ($C = O $) and ester groups ($-COO - $), there are no hydrogen atoms directly attached to atoms with strong electronegativity (such as oxygen, nitrogen, and fluorine).

Polar proton solvents require active hydrogen atoms that can give protons ($H ^ {+} $), and the molecules have a certain polarity. Taking water as an example, hydrogen in water molecules is connected to oxygen, and oxygen is highly electronegative, making hydrogen acidic and protons can be given. And water molecules are polar molecules, so water is a typical polar proton solvent.

In contrast, ethyl acetate, although it has a certain polarity due to the existence of carbonyl and ester groups, does not have the above-mentioned active hydrogen atoms for protons. The hydrogen in its molecule is all connected to the carbon atom, and the electronegativity of carbon is relatively weak compared to oxygen and nitrogen. The degree of electron pair offset between hydrogen and carbon is small, and hydrogen is difficult to dissociate into protons.

In summary, ethyl acetate non-polar proton solvents, due to the lack of active hydrogen atoms that can give protons in their structure, although they are polar, do not meet the key conditions for polar proton solvents.