KAFFIR LIME

JASMINE FLOWER

Esters belong to a class or organic compounds that are widely found in nature Most esters are founds in fruits and are responsible for the distinctive and pleasant fruity aromas Example: esters isoamyl acetate is the main chemical that produces the smell of bananas

Esters are organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen During esterification reaction, a carboxylic acid react with an alcohols to form ester and a molecule of water is eliminated

The general formula of esters is CnH2n+1COOCmH2m+1 Values of m and n indicate the numbers of carbon atoms in the esters molecules N values = 0,1,2,3 ..and m = 1,2,3

The general formula contains the group COO. This is known as the carboxylate group. -COOH is the functional group of the esters and has the structure O C O

Esters consisting of two parts, one deriving from an alcohol and the other from a carboxylic acid The name of alcohol part of the ester is given first and followed by separated word giving the name of the acid part of the ester

Name of alkyl group from alcohol

Name of carboxylate group from carboxylate acid

The name of the alcohol part of the ester is the name of the alkyl group (CmH2m+1 ) in the alcohol The name of the acid part of ester is the name of the carboxylate anion derived from the acid, the - oic acid is replaced by oate

Refer example 2.6 in text book Activity 2.28 page 52, practical book

Ester produced by esterification reaction Molecule of carboxylic acid reacts with molecule of alcohol in the presence of a strong acid catalyst such as concentrated sulphuric acid to form ester and water Example methanoic acid HCOOH combines with methanol, CH3OH to form methyl methanoate HCOOCH3 and water is eliminated Refers text book page 79 example 2.7

Sweet pleasant smell Colourless liquid Lower boiling points than carboxylic acid Volatile compounds Soluble in water but dissolve in organic solvent

Simple esters are found in fruits and flowers Esters are responsible for the fruity smell and pleasant fragrant associated with flower and fruits Jasmine owe its smell to benzyl ethanoate and pineapple from ethyl butanoate The higher and more complex esters have higher boiling points and thus are less volatile They do not produce the familiar pleasant smells of simple esters

Natural sources of esters

Esters with low molecular mass are volatile liquid and have sweet smells Pleasant aromas suitable for preparation of cosmetics and perfume Ester also used as food additive to enhance the flavour and smell of processed foods They are listed as artificial flavour on labels of processed foods, snacks and confectionery Sunburn lotions, nail polish removers and glues use esters as solvents

Large esters are used in the production of soaps and detergents Fats and oils are hydrolyzed to produced soaps Esters also used in production of polyesters