Ethyl pentanoate (source code)

= Ethyl pentanoate

<Ethyl pentanoate> is the <ester> $\mathrm{CH_3(CH_2)_3C(=O)OCH_2CH_3}$. Its pentanoyl portion contains five carbons, including the carbonyl carbon, while its <alcohol>-derived ethyl group contributes two more.

<Hydrolysis> can yield pentanoic acid and <ethanol>, or a pentanoate <salt> under basic conditions. Tracking the two parts of the ester prevents confusion between carbon-chain identity and total molecular carbon count.

<Organic Chemistry by John McMurry>[Chapter21, Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: ester identity and hydrolysis]{ref}