Amyl acetate (pentyl acetate) is an

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The ...

and an

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides ar ...

with the chemical formula CH₃COO H₂sub>4CH₃ and the molecular weight 130.19g/mol. It is colorless and has a scent similar to

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguis ...

s and

apple An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple fruit tree, trees are agriculture, cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, wh ...

s. The compound is the condensation product of

acetic acid Acetic acid , systematically named ethanoic acid , is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula (also written as , , or ). Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main component ...

and

1-pentanol 1-Pentanol, (or ''n''-pentanol, pentan-1-ol), is an alcohol with five carbon atoms and the molecular formula C5H11OH.CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 65Th Ed. 1-Pentanol is a colourless liquid with a distinctive aroma. It is the straight-ch ...

. However, esters formed from other pentanol isomers ( amyl alcohols), or mixtures of pentanols, are often referred to as amyl acetate. The symptoms of exposure to amyl acetate in humans are

dermatitis Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can v ...

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all par ...

depression, narcosis and irritation to the eyes and nose.

Uses

It is used as a flavoring agent, as a paint and lacquer solvent, and in the preparation of

penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' moulds, principally '' P. chrysogenum'' and '' P. rubens''. Most penicillins in clinical use are synthesised by P. chrysogenum using ...

. It is an inactive ingredient in liquid bandages. It is used as a fuel in the

Hefner lamp The Hefner lamp, or in German ''Hefnerkerze'', is a flame lamp used in photometry that burns amyl acetate. The lamp was invented by Friedrich von Hefner-Alteneck in 1884 and he proposed its use as a standard flame for photometric purposes with a ...

References

Flavors Acetate esters {{Ester-stub

Uses

See also

References