Advanced Organic Chemistry: Infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate (ethyl formate) HCOOCH2CH3

HOME PAGE * SEARCH * GCSE Level Chemistry age ~14-16 * Advanced Level Chemistry age ~16-19

Interpreting and explaining the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate (ethyl formate)

[Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD: Doc Brown's advanced level organic chemistry exam revision notes suitable for students of UK A level chemistry courses & US K12 grade 11, grade 12 and AP honors chemistry courses: Molecular spectroscopy - analysing the infrared spectra of ethyl methanoate [spectra page updated April 3rd 2026 *]

 email doc brown Re-edit infrared spectrum of HCOOCH2CH3

 Links associated with ethyl methanoate

 This is a BIG chemistry website, PLEASE take time to explore it

 Infrared spectroscopy - spectra index  *  [privacy policy, cookies and disclaimer]

Introductory note on the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate

Students and teachers please note my explanation of the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate is designed for advanced, but pre-university, chemistry courses.

Based in the infrared spectrum diagram for ethyl methanoate, only some of the most prominent peaks for particular bond vibrations are discussed, particularly if ethyl methanoate has a functional group with a particular characteristic wavenumber peak.

The infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate is unique and the whole, or selected wavenumbers, can be used to fingerprint its identity, sometimes analysing a mixture containing ethyl methanoate or following its change of concentration in a reaction.

infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate C3H6O2 HCOOCH2CH3 wavenumbers cm-1 functional group detection fingerprint pattern identification of ethyl methanoate doc brown's advanced organic chemistry revision notes 

Spectra obtained from a liquid film of ethyl methanoate. The right-hand part of the of the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate, wavenumbers ~1500 to 400 cm-1 is considered the fingerprint region for the identification of ethyl methanoate and most organic compounds. It is due to a unique set of complex overlapping vibrations of the atoms of the molecule of ethyl methanoate.

Ethyl methanoate (ethyl formate) C3H6O2  (c) doc b  (c) doc b  (c) doc b 

(c) doc b   The molecular structure and naming of carboxylic acids and derivatives

Interpretation of the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate

The most prominent infrared absorption lines of ethyl methanoate

C-H stretching vibration absorptions occur in the wavenumber region 2975 to 2860 cm-1.

Not very important, common to most organic molecules.

For saturated aliphatic esters, C=O stretching vibration absorptions occur in the wavenumber region 1750 to 1735 cm-1.

This is a very characteristic absorption for any molecule e.g. an ester, with a carbonyl group.

For methanoate esters, C-O stretching vibration absorptions occur in the wavenumber region 1200 to 1180 cm-1.

The absence of other specific functional group bands will show that a particular functional group is absent from the ethyl methanoate molecular structure e.g. no hydroxyl group vibration at ~3500 to 3200 cm-1., obviously not expected for an ester like methyl ethanoate, but expected for a carboxylic acid like the isomeric propanoic acid.

Key words & phrases: C3H6O2 HCOOCH2CH3 image and diagram explaining the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate, complete infrared absorption spectrum of ethyl methanoate, comparative spectra of ethyl methanoate, prominent peaks/troughs for identifying functional groups in the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate, important wavenumber values in cm-1 for peaks/troughs in the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate, revision of infrared spectroscopy of ethyl methanoate, fingerprint region analysis of ethyl methanoate, how to identify ethyl methanoate from its infrared spectrum, identifying organic compounds like ethyl methanoate from their infrared spectrum, how to analyse the absorption bands in the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate detection of ester functional groups in the ethyl methanoate molecule example of the infrared spectrum of a molecule like ethyl methanoate with an ester functional group  interpreting interpretation of the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate shows presence of ester functional group formula type functional group ethyl formate How do you interpret the infrared absorption spectrum of ethyl methanoate How to interpret the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate Explanatory diagram of the infrared spectrum of the ethyl methanoate molecule in terms of its molecular structure. Listing data of the prominent main wavenumber peaks troughs in the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate. How to explain the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate. Use of the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate, identification of ethyl methanoate from its infrared spectrum - fingerprint wavenumber pattern to identify the ethyl methanoate molecule. The uses of the infrared spectrum of the ethyl methanoate molecule. The distinctive features of the infrared spectrum of the ethyl methanoate molecule explained interpretation diagram explaining the peaks-trough of the transmittance of the infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate what does the infrared spectrum tell you about the structure and properties of the ethyl methanoate molecule? How is infrared spectrum of ethyl methanoate used to identify ethyl methanoate?

Links associated with ethyl methanoate

The mass spectrum of ethyl methanoate (ethyl formate)

The H-1 NMR spectrum of ethyl methanoate (ethyl formate)

The C-13 NMR spectrum of ethyl methanoate (ethyl formate)

The chemistry of CARBOXYLIC ACIDS and DERIVATIVES revision notes INDEX

Infrared spectroscopy index

ALL SPECTROSCOPY INDEXES

All Advanced Organic Chemistry Notes

Use My Google search site box

Email doc b: chem55555@hotmail.com

Website content © Dr Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images, quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of Doc Brown's pre-university advanced level chemistry website material is NOT permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications are unofficial. These organic chemistry revision notes on spectroscopy (infrared spectra of ethyl methanoate) are suitable for use of pre-university students studying AQA advanced level chemistry, Edexcel advanced level chemistry, OCR advanced level chemistry, IB advanced level chemistry, WJEC (Eduqas) advanced level chemistry, CIE advanced level chemistry, CCEA advanced level chemistry, US grade 11-12 AP honors chemistry courses and they will also prove useful to 1st year undergraduate students of chemistry.

TOP OF PAGE