Moderate

Which of the following is not an ester_________________?

Correct answer: B. sodium butyrate

  • A. amyl acetate
  • B. sodium butyrate
  • C. isobutyle formate
  • D. octyl acetate

Explanation

Sodium butyrate is an ionic salt formed from butanoic acid and sodium, so it does not contain the ester linkage R-COO-R. Amyl acetate, isobutyl formate and octyl acetate all contain ester groups. The likely mistake is treating every compound derived from a carboxylic acid as an ester, instead of checking for the carbon-linked alkoxy group.

Last updated

About Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Carboxylic acid derivatives include acid halides, acid anhydrides, esters and amides, formed by replacing the hydroxyl group of a carboxylic acid. Their nomenclature, structures, preparation, hydrolysis and relative reactivity are linked through nucleophilic acyl substitution, which differs from the nucleophilic addition reactions of aldehydes and ketones.

Practise Carboxylic Acids

550 free Carboxylic Acids MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions