Esters are derivative of carboxylic acids in which the -OH group has been replaced by -OR group, where R may be an alkyl / aryl group. It is an organic compound where the hydrogen in the compound’s carboxyl group is replaced with a hydrocarbon group.
Examples: Ethyl acetate is an ester. The hydrogen on the carboxyl group of acetic acid is replaced with an ethyl group.
Some Important Esters:
- Ripe banana: Pentyl ethanoate
- Orange: Octyl ethanoate
- Pineapple: Ethyl butanoate
- Strawberry: 3 – methyl butyl ethanoate
- Blackberry: Ethyl butarate
- Jasmine: Benzyl acetate
- Ripe apple: Iso-amyl iso-valarate
