What is the characteristic odour of most esters?

What is the characteristic odour of most esters?

  1. Fruity ✓
  2. Pungent
  3. Ammoniacal
  4. Sulfurous

Explanation

Esters are organic compounds that typically smell like fruits or flowers. Natural fruit flavors and scents come from ester molecules present in the fruit.

Different esters produce different fruity smells. For example, ethyl acetate smells like pears, while octyl acetate smells like oranges.

Chemists use synthetic esters to create artificial fruit flavors in candies and beverages. The pleasant fruity smell makes esters easy to identify in chemistry labs.