Ethyl acetate (
systematically, ethyl ethanoate, commonly abbreviated EtOAc or EA) is the
organic compound with the formula CH
3-COO-CH
2-CH
3, simplified to C
4H
8O
2. This colorless liquid has a characteristic sweet smell (similar to
pear drops) and is used in
glues,
nail polish removers,
decaffeinating tea and coffee, and
cigarettes (see
list of additives in cigarettes). Ethyl acetate is the
ester of
ethanol and
acetic acid; it is manufactured on a large scale for use as a solvent. The combined annual production in 1985 of Japan, North America, and Europe was about 400,000 tons. In 2004, an estimated 1.3M tons were produced worldwide.