Chemistry · General chemistry II · Worked example
Name an ester
Name CH₃CH₂CH₂COOCH₃.
Split the ester
The single-bonded oxygen joins two parts: a methyl group, and a four-carbon chain ending in the carbonyl group.
Name the acid part
Four carbons ending in the carbonyl group come from butanoic acid; as an ester, -oic acid becomes -oate: butanoate.
Write the name
The group on the oxygen comes first, as a separate word.
Result
Methyl butanoate.
Your turn
Name CH₃CH₂COOCH₂CH₃.
Show the answer and explanation
Ethyl propanoate.
An ethyl group on the oxygen, and a three-carbon acid part from propanoic acid.
Keep exploring
Set the target butyl methanoate on the drawing: it describes a different compound, with the groups swapped around the oxygen.
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