Question

identify the acid molecule in the ester compound ethyl methanoate.
select the correct answer below:
methanoic acid
ethanoic acid
butanoic acid
none of the above

Explanation:

Esters are formed from an acid and an alcohol. The general formula for an ester is \(R - COO - R'\). In ethyl methanoate (\(CH_{3}CH_{2}OOCH\)), the acid part (\(R - COOH\)) is methanoic acid (\(HCOOH\)) and the alcohol part (\(R'OH\)) is ethanol (\(CH_{3}CH_{2}OH\)). So the acid molecule in ethyl methanoate is methanoic acid.

Answer:

methanoic acid