"Differences between Methyl Acetate and Ethyl Acetate"

Methyl acetate and ethyl acetate are both common ester compounds in organic chemistry, but there are many differences between the two.

Looking at its structure, methyl acetate is formed by esterification of one molecule of methanol and one molecule of acetic acid, and its chemical formula is $CH_3COOCH_3 $; while ethyl acetate is obtained by esterification of one molecule of ethanol and one molecule of acetic acid, the chemical formula is $CH_3COOC_2H_5 $. The different structures cause the properties of the two to be different.

In terms of its physical properties, the boiling point of methyl acetate is about 57 ° C, and the relative density is small; the boiling point of ethyl acetate is about 77 ° C, which is higher than that of methyl acetate, and the relative density is slightly different. In terms of solubility, both are soluble in organic solvents, but the solubility in water is slightly higher in methyl acetate than in ethyl acetate.

As for chemical properties, although they all have ester-like properties, hydrolysis, alcoholysis and other reactions can occur, but the reaction rates are also different. Hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions, ethyl acetate has a slightly stronger spatial barrier effect due to the large volume of ethyl group than methyl group, and the hydrolysis rate may be slightly slower than that of methyl acetate.

In industrial applications, the two uses have their own emphasis. Methyl acetate is often used in the field of solvents, because it is volatile and can dry quickly, it is widely used in coatings, inks and other industries; in addition to being used as a solvent, ethyl acetate is also commonly used in the preparation of food flavors because of its pleasant fruity aroma. In short, although methyl acetate and ethyl acetate belong to the same esters, their differences in structure, properties and uses make them develop their strengths in different fields.