15 Name

Chapter 18 Naming Esters Practice Worksheet

Esters:
Systematic names of esters are based on the name of the corresponding carboxylic acid. Remember,
esters look like this:
General Formula:
O
║
R ― C ― O ― R′
↑ ↑
acyl group alkyl group

The alkyl group is named like a substituent using the –yl ending. This is followed by a space. The acyl portion of the
name (what is left over) is named by replacing the –ic acid suffix of the corresponding carboxylic acid with –ate.

O O
║ ║
CH3 ― CH2 ― C ― O ― CH3 CH3 ― C ― O ― CH2 ― CH3

methyl propanoate ethyl ethanoate

Naming Suffix: alkyl group (carboxylic acid name) -ate

1. Name the following compounds.

O
║
a. CH3 ― CH2 ― C ― O ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH3

O Name: butyl propanoate

║
b. CH3 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― O ― C ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH3

Name:
O
║
c. CH3 ― O ― C ― CH3 Name:

O
║
d. CH3 ― O ― C ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH3
Name:
O
║
e. CH3 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― O ― C ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH3

Name:
O
║
f. CH3 ― CH2 ― O ― C ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH3

Name:
15 Name

O
║
g. CH3 ― CH2 ― O ― CH Name:
│
CH3
O
║
h. CH3 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― O ― C ― CH3 Name:

O
║
i. CH3 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― O ― C ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH2 ― CH3

Name:

NOTE: Esters do get more complex with branches on the alkyl groups, but that is beyond the scope of our high
school text.

2. Draw the following compounds.

a. pentyl propanoate

b. butyl hexanoate

c. ethyl ethanoate

d. methyl propanoate

e. ethyl pentanoate

f. hexyl octanoate

g. isopropyl butanoate