What is the name of the ester formed from ethanoic acid and ethanol?

The ester formed from ethanoic acid and ethanol is known as ethyl acetate. This compound results from a condensation reaction between ethanol, which is a two-carbon alcohol, and ethanoic acid, a two-carbon carboxylic acid. During this process, a water molecule is removed, leading to the formation of the ester link.

Ethyl acetate is particularly significant due to its uses in food flavorings, perfumes, and as an industrial solvent. The naming follows the convention of using the alkyl group derived from the alcohol (in this case, ethyl from ethanol) combined with the name of the acid (acetic acid, in its ester form known as ethanoate).

In contrast, the other choices refer to different structures or groups. For example, propyl ethanoate contains a different alcohol (propanol), while butyl acetic acid relates to a butanol and acetic acid combination rather than ethanol. Therefore, the accurate name for the ester formed from ethanoic acid and ethanol specifically is ethyl acetate.