|This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. (October 2012)|
Ethyl n-butanoate, Ethyl n-butyrate, Butanoic acid ethyl ester, Butyric acid ethyl ester, Butyric ether, UN 1180
|Molar mass||116.16 g·mol−1|
|Appearance||Colorless liquid with fruity odor (typically pineapple)|
|Melting point||−93 °C (−135 °F; 180 K)|
|Boiling point||120 °C (248 °F; 393 K)|
|Soluble in 150 parts|
|Vapor pressure||1510 Pa (11.3 mm Hg)|
|Main hazards||Irritant (Xi)|
|S-phrases||S16 S26 S36|
|Flash point||78 °F (26 °C) c.c.|
|463 °C (865 °F; 736 K)|
LD50 (Lethal dose)
|13050 mg/kg (oral, rat)|
|Supplementary data page|
|Refractive index (n),
Dielectric constant (εr), etc.
|UV, IR, NMR, MS|
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
|what is: / ?)(|
Ethyl butyrate, also known as ethyl butanoate, or butyric ether, is an ester with the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2COOCH2CH3. It is soluble in propylene glycol, paraffin oil, and kerosene. It has a fruity odor, similar to pineapple.
It is commonly used as artificial flavoring resembling orange juice or pineapple in alcoholic beverages (e.g. martinis, daiquiris etc.), as a solvent in perfumery products, and as a plasticizer for cellulose. In addition, ethyl butyrate is often also added to orange juice, as most associate its odor with that of fresh orange juice.
Ethyl butyrate is one of the most common chemicals used in flavors and fragrances. It can be used in a variety of flavors: orange (most common), cherry, pineapple, mango, guava, bubblegum, peach, apricot, fig, and plum. In industrial use, it is also one of the cheapest chemicals, which only adds to its popularity.