On the topic of esters, if my Ester is

Question

CH3-C(double bond directly downward below the C)-O-CH3, would it be methyl ethanoate or methanoate ethyl? Thanks.

Answer 1

You name the alcohol group first and the acid group second. The alcohol group in this case is methyl. Then you count the C atoms, including the C attached to the =O and name it as an -oate. So the name is methyl ethanoate (the acid CH3COOH is ethanoic acid)