ethyl acetate

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, C 4 H 8 O 2 , having a fragrant, fruitlike odor: used chiefly as a scent in the manufacture of perfumes, flavorings, and confections, and as a solvent for paints, varnishes, and lacquers.

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ethyl acetate British  

noun

1. a colourless volatile flammable fragrant liquid ester, made from acetic acid and ethanol: used in perfumes and flavourings and as a solvent for plastics, etc. Formula: CH 3 COOC 2 H 5

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ethyl acetate Scientific  

1. A colorless, volatile, flammable liquid used as a solvent and in perfumes, lacquers, pharmaceuticals, and rayon. Chemical formula: C ₄ H ₈ O ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of ethyl acetate

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Local media reported that ethyl acetate, a highly flammable chemical compound, was found at the attack sites.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

The obtained extracts were concentrated and partitioned between water and ethyl acetate.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2024

Methylene chloride and ethyl acetate are commonly used in paint stripper, nail polish removers and degreaser.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2023

Conventional home fragrance products can contain hundreds of chemicals, including phthalates, benzaldehyde, camphor, ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, musk ketone, benzene, formaldehyde, BHT and acetaldehyde.

From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2023

With sodium ethylate in ethyl acetate solution it forms the sodium derivative of benzoyl acetone, from which benzoyl acetone, C6H5.CO.CH2.CO.CH3, can be obtained by acidification with acetic acid.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg