Methyl acetate - Definition and Overview

Methyl acetate, also known as acetic acid methyl ester or methyl ethanoate, is a clear, flammable liquid with a characteristic, not unpleasant smell like certain glues or nail polish removers. Methyl acetate has characteristics very similar to its analog ethyl acetate. Methyl acetate is used as a solvent in glues and nail polish removers, in chemical reactions, and for extractions. Methyl acetate is a non-polar (lipophilic) to weakly polar (hydrophilic) aprotic solvent. Methyl acetate has a solubility of 25% in water at room temperature. At elevated temperature its miscibility with water is much higher. Methyl acetate is not stable in the presence of strong aqueous bases and acids.

Chemistry

Methyl acetate is an ester that is synthesized from acetic acid and methanol in the presence of strong acids like sulfuric acid in an esterification reaction. In the presence of strong bases like sodium hydroxide or strong acids like hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid and is hydrolyzed back into methanol and acetic acid, especially at elevated temperature.

See also

• Solvent
• Ethyl acetate

External links

• Material safety data (MSD) (http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/m2743.htm) for methyl acetate