Isoamyl acetate

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Isoamyl acetate is an organic compound that is the ester formed from isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid. It a clear colorless liquid that is very slightly soluble in water, but well soluble in most organic solvents.

Isoamyl acetate has a strong pleasant odor which is described as similar to both banana and pear. Banana oil is a term that is applied either to pure isoamyl acetate or to flavorings that are mixtures of isoamyl acetate, amyl acetate, nitrocellulose and other flavors. Pear oil commonly refers to a solution of isoamyl acetate in ethanol that is used as an artificial flavor.

Isoamyl acetate is also used to test the effectiveness of respirators or gas masks because it has a strong smell which is not unpleasant that can be detected at low concentrations, and has low toxicity.

It is also used as a solvent for some varnishes and nitrocellulose lacquers, as well as being a honey bee pheremone and can be used to attract large groups of honeybees to a small area.

External links

• For a full list of external links to MSDSs, spectroscopic data, commercial chemicals suppliers etc. for this compound, see [Chemical sources].

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