Methyl acetate

It is a flammable liquid with a characteristically pleasant smell reminiscent of some glues and nail polish removers.

Methyl acetate is occasionally used as a solvent, being weakly polar and lipophilic, but its close relative ethyl acetate is a more common solvent being less toxic and less soluble in water.

Methyl acetate is not regulated as a volatile organic compound in the USA.

The conversion of methyl acetate back into its components, by an acid, is a first-order reaction with respect to the ester.

A major use of methyl acetate is as a volatile low toxicity solvent in glues, paints, and nail polish removers.

Skeletal formula of methyl acetate
Ball and stick model of the methyl acetate molecule
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroform Flammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasoline Instability (yellow): no hazard code Special hazards (white): no code