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Acetate: Structure, Properties, Definition, Formula & Structure

Acetate: Structure, Properties, Definition, Formula & Structure

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 05:12 PM IST

Acetate is a chemical compound. It has the formula C2H3O2. It can also be called Acetate Ion. It is a salt that is formed by the mixture of acetic acid with some bases. The bases can be alkaline, metallic, earthy or nonmetallic. Conjugate base of acetic acid is Acetate. The abbreviation of acetate ion is AcO- or -OAc. Acetic acid is not a strong acid. It is a weak acid. It dissociates in water and releases a proton with an acetate ion. It happens at a pH of 5.5 or more. Chemical formula of Acetate is CH3COO-.

This Story also Contains
  1. Properties Of Acetate ion
  2. Structure Of Acetate
  3. Uses Of Acetate
  4. Features Of Acetate
  5. Chemical Properties Of Acetate
Acetate: Structure, Properties, Definition, Formula & Structure
Acetate

When vinegar that is also known as acetic acid and baking soda that is also known as sodium bicarbonate reacts with each other, they produce an acetate ester or sodium acetate. This reaction is well known and this mixture can be used for cleaning purposes.

If we talk about biology, acetate is considered as one of the most important building blocks for biosynthesis in the human body. It includes fatty acid synthesis. It is an anion and is found in Biology.

Properties Of Acetate ion

  • Molecular formula of Acetate ion is C2H3O2-.

  • Acetic acid is the conjugate acid of Acetate ion.

  • Molecular weight of Acetate ion is 59.04 g/mol.

  • 59.013 g/mol is the mass of acetate.

  • Complexity of Acetate ion is 25.5.

  • IUPAC name of Acetate ion is Ethanoate.

Structure Of Acetate

Acetate consists of one methyl group. This group is bonded with a carbonyl carbon. This carbonyl group is attached to another oxygen which is having a negative charge along with the methyl group. The hybridization of carbon of methyl is sp3 and it is having a tetrahedral geometry. The hybridisation of carbonyl carbon is sp2 .It is doubly bonded to oxygen and has a single bond with the oxygen that is negatively charged .Both the oxygen is equivalent . It is due to the electrons delocalization through resonance. The delocalization results in the equivalent distribution of the negative charge .


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Uses Of Acetate

  • Acetate is used to produce vinyl acetate. It is a precursor to polyvinyl alcohol. It is also used as a component of paints.

  • It is also used in place of cellulose acetate. It’s production is done by using acetic acid. Production of fibres is carried out with the help of Cellulose acetate.

  • Many industrial solvents are acetates. It includes methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate and butyl acetate.

  • They are used as a fragrance product in foods.

  • It is also used as a solvent.

  • Cellulose acetate has it’s application as an eyeglass frame.

  • It is also found in diapers.

  • Potassium acetate can be used in the preservation of food.

  • It has it’s application in laboratories.

  • Aluminium acetate can be utilised as an anti stringent.

Features Of Acetate

  • ‘Acetate’ is a compound that contains the acetate anion and a cation.

  • C2H3O2- or CH3COO- is the chemical formula of acetate anion.

  • Acetic acid is the simplest form of acetate. Hydrogen cation when combined to the acetate anion(acetic acid: CH3COOH).

  • Acetate is also used in biological systems in the form of acetyl.

  • It has it’s applications in various metabolism with the purpose to yield energy. In biology, it is used as a building block.

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Chemical Properties Of Acetate

1. Acetate reacts with sodium hydroxide

When a reaction takes place between Sodium acetate and soda lime, methane and sodium carbonate are formed as a product. This type of reaction is called decarboxylation. It is one of the most common methods that is helpful in the preparation of alkanes.

2. Acetate reacts with Water

Water continuously ionises to form hydroxide anions and hydrogen cations. Sodium acetate gets dissociated in water to form sodium and acetate ions. Sodium ions do a small reaction with the hydroxide ions. And the acetate ions react with the hydrogen ions and produce acetic acid.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is acetate?

Acetate is a chemical compound. It has the formula C2H3O2. It can also be called Acetate Ion. It is a salt that is formed by a mixture of acetic acid with some bases. The bases can be alkaline, metallic, earthy or nonmetallic. The conjugate base of acetic acid is Acetate.

2. What are the properties of acetate ions?

The properties of Acetate ions are -

  • Molecular formula of Acetate ion is C2H3O2- .

  • Acetic acid is the conjugate acid of Acetate ion.

  • Molecular weight of the Acetate ion is 59.04 g/mol.

  • 59.013 g/mol is the mass of acetate.

3. What are the uses of acetate?

The uses of Acetate are-

  • Acetate is used to produce vinyl acetate. It is a precursor to polyvinyl alcohol. It is also used as a component of paints. 

  • It is also used in place of cellulose acetate. It’s production is done by using acetic acid. Production of fibres is carried out with the help of Cellulose acetate.

  • Many industrial solvents are acetates. It includes methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate and butyl acetate. It is also used in fragrance.

4. What are the chemical properties of Acetate?

The chemical properties of Acetate are -

1. Acetate reacts with sodium hydroxide

When a reaction takes place between Sodium acetate and soda lime, methane and sodium carbonate are formed as a product. This type of reaction is called decarboxylation . 

2. Acetate reacts with Water

Water continuously ionises to form hydroxide anions and hydrogen cations. Sodium acetate gets dissociated in water to form sodium and acetate ions. Sodium ions do a small reaction with the hydroxide ions. And the acetate ions react with the hydrogen ions and produce acetic acid.

5. What are the features of Acetate?

The features of Acetate are -

  • Acetate is a compound that contains the acetate anion and a cation.

  • C2H3O2- or CH3COO-  is the chemical formula of acetate anion.

Acetic acid is the simplest form of acetate. Hydrogen cation when combined to the acetate anion(acetic acid: CH3COOH).

6. What is the difference between an acetate salt and an acetate ester?
An acetate salt is formed when the acetate ion bonds with a positive ion (cation), like sodium acetate (CH3COONa). An acetate ester is formed when the acetate group bonds with an alkyl group through the oxygen atom, like ethyl acetate (CH3COOCH2CH3).
7. How does the basicity of an acetate ion compare to that of water?
The acetate ion is a stronger base than water. It can accept a proton more readily, forming acetic acid. This is why acetate solutions are slightly basic, with a pH greater than 7.
8. How does the acetate group affect the acidity of alpha hydrogens in organic compounds?
The acetate group is electron-withdrawing, which increases the acidity of alpha hydrogens (those on the carbon adjacent to the carbonyl group). This makes these hydrogens more easily removed as protons in certain reactions.
9. How does the acetate ion act as a buffer in solutions?
The acetate ion, along with acetic acid, forms a buffer system. It can neutralize small amounts of added acid by accepting protons, or neutralize small amounts of added base by providing protons from the acetic acid. This helps maintain a relatively stable pH in the solution.
10. What is the significance of the pKa of acetic acid in relation to acetate?
The pKa of acetic acid (4.76) indicates the pH at which half of the acetic acid molecules have dissociated to form acetate ions. This value is important for understanding the behavior of acetate in solution and its effectiveness as a buffer.
11. What is the significance of acetate in NMR spectroscopy?
In NMR spectroscopy, acetate is significant because:
12. How does the acetate group affect the IR spectroscopy of organic compounds?
The acetate group affects IR spectroscopy by introducing characteristic absorption bands:
13. What is the importance of acetate buffers in biochemistry?
Acetate buffers are important in biochemistry because:
14. How does the acetate ion behave in electrochemical processes?
In electrochemical processes, the acetate ion can:
15. What is the difference between acetate and acetyl groups?
An acetate group (CH3COO-) is the ionized form of acetic acid or the group in acetate esters. An acetyl group (CH3CO-) is derived from acetic acid by removing the -OH group. The acetyl group is commonly involved in acylation reactions, while acetate is often seen in salts and esters.
16. Why are acetates generally more soluble in water than their parent carboxylic acids?
Acetates are generally more soluble in water because they are ionic compounds. The negative charge on the acetate ion allows for stronger interactions with water molecules through ion-dipole forces, enhancing solubility.
17. How does the acetate group affect the boiling point of organic compounds?
The acetate group generally increases the boiling point of organic compounds compared to their non-acetylated counterparts. This is due to increased intermolecular forces, particularly dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding with the carbonyl oxygen.
18. How does temperature affect the solubility of acetate salts in water?
Generally, the solubility of acetate salts in water increases with temperature. This is because the dissolution process is typically endothermic, and higher temperatures provide more energy to break the ionic bonds in the crystal lattice.
19. How does the acetate ion behave in acid-base titrations?
In acid-base titrations, the acetate ion acts as a weak base. When titrated with a strong acid, it accepts protons to form acetic acid. The titration curve for acetate shows a gradual change in pH near its pKa, making it useful for buffer preparations.
20. How does the structure of the acetate ion contribute to its reactivity?
The structure of the acetate ion contributes to its reactivity in several ways:
21. What is an acetate?
An acetate is the salt or ester of acetic acid. In organic chemistry, it refers to the CH3COO- ion or the functional group -OCOCH3. Acetates are important in biochemistry and industrial applications.
22. How does the structure of an acetate ion differ from acetic acid?
The acetate ion (CH3COO-) has lost a proton compared to acetic acid (CH3COOH). This results in a negative charge delocalized over the two oxygen atoms, making the acetate ion more stable than acetic acid.
23. What is the chemical formula for the acetate ion?
The chemical formula for the acetate ion is CH3COO- or C2H3O2-. It consists of two carbon atoms, three hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms, with a negative charge.
24. How does resonance contribute to the stability of the acetate ion?
Resonance in the acetate ion involves the delocalization of the negative charge between the two oxygen atoms. This electron sharing creates two equivalent resonance structures, increasing the overall stability of the ion.
25. What is the hybridization of carbon atoms in the acetate ion?
In the acetate ion, both carbon atoms are sp2 hybridized. This results in a planar structure with 120° bond angles around each carbon atom.
26. What is the role of acetate in the production of certain polymers?
Acetate groups are important in the production of some polymers, such as:
27. What is the role of acetate in biological systems?
Acetate plays various roles in biological systems, including:
28. What is the importance of acetate in organic synthesis?
Acetate is important in organic synthesis as:
29. What is the significance of acetate in green chemistry?
Acetate is significant in green chemistry because:
30. How does the acetate ion participate in coordination chemistry?
The acetate ion can act as a ligand in coordination complexes. It typically binds to metal ions in one of three ways:
31. What is the relationship between acetate and vinegar?
Vinegar is essentially a dilute solution of acetic acid in water. When vinegar is neutralized with a base, it forms acetate salts. The characteristic smell and taste of vinegar are due to the presence of acetic acid and its acetate form.
32. What is the role of acetate in the Krebs cycle?
In the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), acetate plays a crucial role in the form of acetyl-CoA:
33. How does the acetate ion interact with proteins?
The acetate ion can interact with proteins in several ways:
34. How does the acetate group affect the polarity of organic molecules?
The acetate group increases the polarity of organic molecules because:
35. What is the role of acetate in ester hydrolysis?
In ester hydrolysis, acetate plays a role as a product:
36. How does the acetate ion contribute to the taste of certain foods?
The acetate ion contributes to taste in several ways:
37. What is the relationship between acetate and acetone in metabolism?
In metabolism, acetate and acetone are related:
38. How does the acetate group affect the UV-Vis spectroscopy of organic compounds?
The acetate group affects UV-Vis spectroscopy by:
39. What is the role of acetate in the production of acetic anhydride?
Acetate plays a role in acetic anhydride production:
40. How does the presence of acetate affect the pH of a solution?
The presence of acetate affects solution pH:
41. What is the significance of acetate in microbial metabolism?
Acetate is significant in microbial metabolism:
42. How does the acetate group affect the melting point of organic compounds?
The acetate group generally affects melting points by:
43. What is the role of acetate in the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)?
In aspirin synthesis, acetate plays a role:
44. How does the acetate ion behave in mass spectrometry?
In mass spectrometry, the acetate ion:
45. What is the importance of acetate in the production of vinyl acetate?
Acetate is important in vinyl acetate production:
46. How does the acetate group affect the reactivity of adjacent functional groups?
The acetate group affects adjacent functional groups by:
47. What is the role of acetate in the Wacker process?
In the Wacker process:
48. How does the acetate ion participate in metal complex formation?
The acetate ion participates in metal complex formation by:
49. What is the significance of acetate in the production of cellulose acetate?
Acetate is significant in cellulose acetate production:

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