What is Ester?
[[Image:Ester-general.svg|130px|thumb|An ester]] An '''ester''' is a [[molecule]] that includes a [[carbon]] atom, [[double bond|double-bonded]] to an [[oxygen]] atom, and single-bonded to another oxygen atom that is bonded to a carbon atom. In other words, a [[carbonyl]] with an [[ether]] group on the [[carbon]] atom. The group can be written as COOR. They can be made by [[chemical reaction|reacting]] a [[carboxylic acid]] with an [[alcohol]] with some [[acid]]. Esters are a very important [[functional group]]. They can be found in many substances. They are very common in [[fat]]s and [[oil]]s. They sometimes have a very strong, nice smell. They can be used to make [[perfume]]s. [[Polyester]]s are found in plastics. Esters can also do many reactions. It is very easy to change the ether part of the molecule with another similar one. It is also possible to [[redox|reduce]] the ester to a [[ketone]] or an [[alcohol]], which can do many different reactions. [[Nucleophilic addition]] is also a good reaction, though a bit more difficult than with ketones. There are many ways to find out if a [[molecule]] has an ester group. [[Infrared spectroscopy]] gives very sharp signals, which are different from other carbonyls. Carbon [[NMR spectroscopy]] has similar characteristics. {{functional group}} [[Category:Functional groups]] [[Category:Esters| ]]