Ester

Description

A class of organic compounds that result from the reaction of an alcohol with an acid. An ester is the organic equivalent of an inorganic salt, and are even named as salts of organic acids. Most low molecular weight esters are solvents that are used in plastics and lacquers, such as ethyl acetate. Polymeric asters are called polyesters. Examples of ester polymers are polymethacrylate and polyethylene terephthalate. Many other synthetic esters have wide commercial uses, such as plasticizers (dibutyl phthalate) and soaps (triphenylphosphate).