Detailed Product Description:

Methyl acetate, also known as acetic acid methyl ester or methyl

ethanoate, is a clear, flammable liquid with a characteristic, fragrant

odor like glues or nail polish removers.

Grade/Purity:

Reagent Grade with 95% minimum purity.

Applications:

Commonly used as a solvent for nitrocellulose lacquers, fingernail enamels.

Background:

Methyl acetate has characteristics very similar to its analog ethyl

acetate.  Methyl acetate is used as a solvent in glues and nail polish

removers, in chemical reactions, and for extractions.

Methyl acetate is a non-polar (lipophilic) to weakly polar (hydrophilic)

aprotic solvent with a solubility of 25% in water at room temperature.

At elevated temperature its miscibility with water is much higher.

Methyl acetate is not stable in the presence of strong aqueous bases or

acids. 

Chemistry

Methyl acetate is an ester that is synthesized from acetic acid and methanol

in the presence of strong acids such as sulfuric acid in an esterification reaction.

In the presence of strong bases such as sodium hydroxide or strong acids such

as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid it is hydrolyzed back into methanol and

acetic acid, especially at elevated temperature.

The conversion of methyl acetate back into its components, by an acid, is a

first-order reaction with respect to the ester.  The reaction of methyl acetate

and a base, for example sodium hydroxide(NaOH), is a second-order reaction

with respect to both reactants.

Precautions:

Flammable, dangerous fire risk.   TLV = 200 ppm in air

                Click here to download MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

Packaging:

Comes packed in 250ml amber glass bottle.  Also available in 500ml size.