For the plastic material formerly used for photographic film, see Cellulose acetate.

Acetate, or ethanoate, is the anion of a salt or ester of acetic acid.

The acetate ion has the formula CH₃COO⁻, and is the conjugate base of acetic acid.

Acetate can also refer to cellulose acetate, especially fibers or other derived products such as the acetate disc used in audio record production. Acetate can be found in many household products.

Prior to the discovery and naming of actinium, the abbreviation Ac (or AC) was sometimes used in chemical formulas to indicate the acetate ion. For example, the formula for sodium acetate might be given as NaAc, rather than the more modern CH₃COONa or NaC₂H₃O₂. In the field of organic chemistry the abbreviation Ac refers to the acetyl group CH₃CO, therefore in the organic chemistry literature acetate is referred to as ⁻OAc, sodium acetate as NaOAc, and ethyl acetate as EtOAc.

See also

• Acetylation

Acetates

Acetato | Acétate | Acetaat | Acetato