ethyl formate
{{chembox
| Watchedfields = changed
| verifiedrevid = 470455933
| ImageFileL1 = Ethyl formate Structural Formulae.svg
| ImageNameL1 = Ethyl formate
| ImageFileR1 = Ethyl-formate-3D-balls.png
| ImageFile2 = Ethyl formate.jpg
| ImageSize2 = 220px
| PIN = Ethyl formate
| SystematicName = Ethyl methanoate
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}}
| ChemSpiderID = 7734
| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}
| UNII = 0K3E2L5553
| InChI = 1/C3H6O2/c1-2-5-3-4/h3H,2H2,1H3
| InChIKey = WBJINCZRORDGAQ-UHFFFAOYAO
| ChEMBL_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}}
| ChEMBL = 44215
| StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}
| StdInChI = 1S/C3H6O2/c1-2-5-3-4/h3H,2H2,1H3
| StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}
| StdInChIKey = WBJINCZRORDGAQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| CASNo = 109-94-4
| ChEBI_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}}
| ChEBI = 52342
| Beilstein = 906769
| PubChem = 8025
| EC_number = 203-721-0
| RTECS = LQ8400000
| UNNumber = 1190
| SMILES = O=COCC
}}
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| C = 3 | H = 6 | O = 2
| Density = 0.917 g/cm3
| MeltingPtK = 193
| BoilingPtC = 54.0
| Appearance = Colorless liquid
| VaporPressure = 200 mmHg (20°C)
| MagSus = −43.00·10−6 cm3/mol
}}
| Section3 = {{Chembox Hazards
| PEL = TWA 100 ppm (300 mg/m3){{PGCH|0278}}
| FlashPtF = -4
| REL = TWA 100 ppm (300 mg/m3)
| LCLo = 10,000 ppm (cat, 1.5 hr)
8000 ppm (rat, 4 hr){{IDLH|109944|Ethyl formate}}
| LD50 = 1850 mg/kg (rat, oral)
1110 mg/kg (guinea pig, oral)
2075 mg/kg (rabbit, oral)
}}
}}
Ethyl formate is an ester formed when ethanol (an alcohol) reacts with formic acid (a carboxylic acid). Ethyl formate has the characteristic smell of rum and is partially responsible for the flavor of raspberries,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/apr/21/space-raspberries-amino-acids-astrobiology|title=Galaxy's centre tastes of raspberries and smells of rum, say astronomers|last=Sample|first=Ian|date=21 April 2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=2009-04-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706165701/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/apr/21/space-raspberries-amino-acids-astrobiology |archive-date=6 July 2017}} occurring naturally in some plant oils, fruits, and juices.
Exposure
Ethyl formate is generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.{{cite web| url=http://groups.ucanr.org/mba/Alternative_fumigants__Ethyl_Formate/| title=Alternative fumigants: Ethyl Formate| publisher=University of California| access-date=2009-04-25| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530174123/http://groups.ucanr.org/mba/Alternative_fumigants__Ethyl_Formate/| archive-date=2009-05-30}}
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.{{cite web| url=http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/ethylformate/recognition.html| title=Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Ethyl Formate| publisher=OSHA| access-date=2009-04-25| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414153954/http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/ethylformate/recognition.html| archive-date=2009-04-14}} In industry, it is used as a solvent for cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, oils, and greases. It can be used as a substitute for acetone; workers may also be exposed to it under the following circumstances:
- during spray, brush, or dip applications of lacquers
- during the manufacture of safety glass
- when fumigating tobacco, cereals, and dried fruits (as an alternative to methyl bromide under the U.S. Department of Agriculture quarantine system)
OSHA considers a time-weighted average of 100 parts per million (300 milligrams per cubic meter) over an eight-hour period as the permissible exposure limit. 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.[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0278.html CDC - NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219133845/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0278.html |date=2017-12-19 }}.
In space
Ethyl formate has been identified in dust clouds in an area of the Milky Way galaxy called Sagittarius B2. It is among 50 molecular species identified using the 30 metre IRAM radiotelescope.