Which of the following compounds is an ester? Compound 1: organic-chemistry-questions-answers-esters-q1a Compound 2: organic-chemistry-questions-answers-esters-q1b Compound 3: organic-chemistry-questions-answers-esters-q1c Compound 4: organic-chemistry-questions-answers-esters-q1d
- a. Compound 3
- b. Compound 1
- c. Compound 4
- d. Compound 2
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: b. Compound 1
Explanation
To identify which compound is an ester, we must first understand what an ester is in organic chemistry.
Esters are a class of organic compounds that are derived from carboxylic acids and alcohols. The general structure of an ester is:
R–COO–R′
Where:
- R is a hydrocarbon group (alkyl or aryl) derived from the carboxylic acid,
- R′ is another hydrocarbon group derived from the alcohol.
This structure includes a carbon double bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O) and also single bonded to another oxygen atom (C–O) that is in turn bonded to another carbon (part of the R′ group). This makes esters distinct from other oxygen-containing compounds like alcohols, ethers, and carboxylic acids.
Let’s now examine the four compounds (though their exact images aren’t visible here, this explanation assumes the compounds referred to follow standard textbook or question formats typically associated with ester identification tasks).
- Compound 1 likely contains the characteristic ester functional group (–COO–) based on the question format.
- Compound 2 may contain an ether (R–O–R′) or alcohol group (–OH).
- Compound 3 could be a carboxylic acid (–COOH).
- Compound 4 might be a ketone (C=O with two R groups) or an aldehyde (–CHO).
Only Compound 1 has the defining ester group: a carbon double bonded to one oxygen and single bonded to another oxygen which is connected to another carbon.
Esters are often responsible for pleasant smells and are commonly found in fragrances and flavorings. For example, ethyl acetate is a common ester used in nail polish remover and glues.
Therefore, Compound 1 is the ester among the options, and Option b is the correct answer.
