etanat

Etanat, also known as ethanoate or acetate, refers to the ethanoate ion CH3COO−, the conjugate base of ethanoic (acetic) acid. In chemical contexts, etanat describes both the ion itself and salts derived from it, such as sodium etanat (sodium acetate) and ammonium etanat (ammonium acetate). The etanat ion features a carboxylate group with two equivalent C–O bonds, yielding resonance stabilization and distributed negative charge across both oxygens.

In aqueous solution, etanat acts as a weak base. The pKa of ethanoic acid is about 4.76, which gives acetate buffering capacity around pH 3.5–5.5. Sodium etanat is a widely used buffering salt and appears in various industrial and laboratory applications. Ethanoate salts also serve as food additives in some regulatory contexts and contribute to preserving and flavoring processes.

Production and occurrence: Etanat forms by neutralizing ethanoic acid with a base. It is produced industrially by neutralization of acetic acid with bases such as sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide. Biologically, acetate is generated in fermentation and metabolism; it can be produced by microbial oxidation of ethanol and is an important metabolic intermediate as acetyl groups are transferred to coenzyme A in cells.

Applications: Used in laboratory buffer solutions (acetate buffers), as a food additive in certain jurisdictions, and in industrial processes including textiles and paper. Sodium acetate is well known for its use in heat packs, where a supersaturated solution crystallizes upon seeding.

Safety: Etanat salts generally have low toxicity but can be irritating in concentrated forms. They should be handled with standard chemical hygiene and kept away from strong acids which release acetic acid upon reaction.

See also: Acetic acid, Acetate, Ethanoate, Sodium acetate, Ammonium acetate.