Esters

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In chemistry, esters are organic compounds in which an organic group (symbolized by R' in this article) replaces a hydrogen atom (or more than one) in an oxygen acid. An oxygen acid is an acid whose molecule has an -OH group from which the hydrogen (H) can dissociate as an H+ ion. The most common esters are the carboxylate esters, where the acid in question is a carboxylic acid. For example, if the acid is acetic acid, the ester is called acetate. Esters may also be formed with inorganic acids; For example, dimethyl sulfate is an ester, and sometimes called "sulfuric acid, dimethyl ester". Esters are named similarly to salts; although they don't really have cautions and anions, the terminology follows the same pattern: A more electropositive part followed by a more electronegative part.