| Description | Ethyl formate, also known as areginal or ethyl methanoate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as carboxylic acid esters. These are carboxylic acid derivatives in which the carbon atom from the carbonyl group is attached to an alkyl or an aryl moiety through an oxygen atom (forming an ester group). Ethyl formate is an alcohol, bitter, and cognac tasting compound. Ethyl formate has been detected, but not quantified, in several different foods, such as citrus, pineapples, apples, fruits, and pomes. This could make ethyl formate a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. It occurs naturally in the body of ants and in the stingers of bees. Ethyl formate has the characteristic smell of rum and is also partially responsible for the flavor of raspberries. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also considers a time-weighted average of 100 ppm over an eight-hour period as the recommended exposure limit. Ethyl formate is an ester formed when ethanol (an alcohol) reacts with formic acid (a carboxylic acid). According to the U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ethyl formate can irritate eyes, skin, mucous membranes, and the respiratory system of humans and other animals; it is also a central nervous system depressant. Ethyl formate has been identified in dust clouds in an area of the Milky Way galaxy called Sagittarius B2 and it is among 50 molecular species identified using the 30 metre IRAM radiotelescope. In industry, it is used as a solvent for cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, oils, and greases. |
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