infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate C3H6O2 CH3COOCH3 prominent wavenumbers cm-1 detecting ? functional groups present finger print for identification of methyl acetate image diagram doc brown's advanced organic chemistry revision notes

Advanced Organic Chemistry: Infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate CH₃COOCH₃

HOME PAGE * SEARCH * GCSE Level Chemistry age ~14-16 * Advanced Level Chemistry age ~16-19

Interpreting and explaining the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate)

[Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD: Doc Brown's advanced level organic chemistry exam revision notes suitable for students of UK A level chemistry courses & US K12 grade 11, grade 12 and AP honors chemistry courses: Molecular spectroscopy - analysing the infrared spectra of methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate) [spectra page updated April 4th 2026 *]

email doc brown Re-edit infrared spectrum of CH₃COOCH₃

Links associated with methyl ethanoate

This is a BIG chemistry website, PLEASE take time to explore it

H-1 proton NMR spectroscopy - spectra index

Infrared spectroscopy - spectra index * [privacy policy, cookies and disclaimer]

Introductory note on the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate

Students and teachers please note my explanation of the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate is designed for advanced, but pre-university, chemistry courses.

Based in the infrared spectrum diagram for methyl ethanoate, only some of the most prominent peaks for particular bond vibrations are discussed, particularly if methyl ethanoate has a functional group with a particular characteristic wavenumber peak.

The infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate is unique and the whole, or selected wavenumbers, can be used to fingerprint its identity, sometimes analysing a mixture containing methyl ethanoate or following its change of concentration in a reaction.

infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate C3H6O2 CH3COOCH3 wavenumbers cm-1 functional group detection fingerprint pattern identification of methyl acetate doc brown's advanced organic chemistry revision notes

Spectra obtained from a liquid film of methyl ethanoate. The right-hand part of the of the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate, wavenumbers ~1500 to 400 cm^-1 is considered the fingerprint region for the identification of methyl ethanoate and most organic compounds. It is due to a unique set of complex overlapping vibrations of the atoms of the molecule of methyl ethanoate.

methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate), , , ,

The molecular structure and naming of carboxylic acids and derivatives

Interpretation of the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate

The most prominent infrared absorption lines of methyl ethanoate

C-H stretching vibration absorptions occur in the wavenumber region 2975 to 2860 cm^-1.

Not very important, common to most organic molecules.

For saturated aliphatic esters, C=O stretching vibration absorptions occur in the wavenumber region 1750 to 1735 cm^-1.

This is a very characteristic absorption for any molecule e.g. an ester, with a carbonyl group.

For ethanoate esters, C-O stretching vibration absorptions occur in the wavenumber region 1250 to 1230 cm^-1.

The absence of other specific functional group bands will show that a particular functional group is absent from the methyl ethanoate molecular structure e.g. no hydroxyl group vibration, a wide band at ~3500 to 2500 cm^-1, obviously not expected for an ester like methyl ethanoate, but expected for a carboxylic acid like the isomeric propanoic acid.

Key words & phrases: C3H6O2 CH3COOCH3 image and diagram explaining the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate, complete infrared absorption spectrum of methyl ethanoate, comparative spectra of methyl ethanoate, prominent peaks/troughs for identifying functional groups in the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate, important wavenumber values in cm-1 for peaks/troughs in the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate, revision of infrared spectroscopy of methyl ethanoate, fingerprint region analysis of methyl ethanoate, how to identify methyl ethanoate from its infrared spectrum, identifying organic compounds like methyl ethanoate from their infrared spectrum, how to analyse the absorption bands in the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate detection of ester functional groups in the methyl ethanoate molecule example of the infrared spectrum of a molecule like methyl ethanoate with a ester functional group interpreting interpretation of the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate shows presence of ester functional group methyl acetate ester How do you interpret the infrared absorption spectrum of methyl ethanoate How to interpret the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate Explanatory diagram of the infrared spectrum of the methyl ethanoate molecule in terms of its molecular structure. Listing data of the prominent main wavenumber peaks troughs in the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate. How to explain the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate. Use of the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate, identification of methyl ethanoate from its infrared spectrum - fingerprint wavenumber pattern to identify the methyl ethanoate molecule. The uses of the infrared spectrum of the methyl ethanoate molecule. The distinctive features of the infrared spectrum of the methyl ethanoate molecule explained interpretation diagram explaining the peaks-trough of the transmittance of the infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate what does the infrared spectrum tell you about the structure and properties of the methyl ethanoate molecule? How is infrared spectrum of methyl ethanoate used to identify methyl ethanoate?

Links associated with methyl ethanoate

The mass spectrum of methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate)

The H-1 NMR spectrum of methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate)

The C-13 NMR spectrum of methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate)

The chemistry of CARBOXYLIC ACIDS and DERIVATIVES revision notes INDEX

Infrared spectroscopy index

ALL SPECTROSCOPY INDEXES

All Advanced Organic Chemistry Notes

Use My Google search site box

Email doc b: chem55555@hotmail.com

Website content © Dr Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images, quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of Doc Brown's pre-university advanced level chemistry website material is NOT permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications are unofficial. These organic chemistry revision notes on spectroscopy (infrared spectra of methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate) are suitable for use of pre-university students studying AQA advanced level chemistry, Edexcel advanced level chemistry, OCR advanced level chemistry, IB advanced level chemistry, WJEC (Eduqas) advanced level chemistry, CIE advanced level chemistry, CCEA advanced level chemistry, US grade 11-12 AP honors chemistry courses and they will also prove useful to 1st year undergraduate students of chemistry.