Esters are the products formed by the elimination of water from acids and alcohols. The products resulting from the dehydration of oxygen-containing inorganic acids and alcohols are termed inorganic esters; similarly, the products formed from organic carboxylic acids and alcohols are termed organic esters. In nomenclature, the name of the acid is placed first, followed by the hydrocarbon group of the alkoxy moiety, and finally, the suffix "ester" is added.
Esters are named based on the specific acid and alcohol (or phenol) from which they are derived; examples include methyl acetate (CH₃COOCH₃), ethyl acetate (CH₃COOC₂H₅), phenyl acetate (CH₃COOC₆H₅), methyl benzoate (C₆H₅COOCH₃), butyl acetate (CH₃COOC₄H₉), and octyl acrylate (CH₂=CHCOOC₈H₁₇), among others.
