ester
ES-ter
Definition
A class of organic chemical compounds formed by the reaction of an acid and an alcohol, often characterized by specific structural patterns detected in mass spectrometry.
Etymology
Derived from the German 'Essigäther' (vinegar ether), coined by German chemist Leopold Gmelin in the 19th century by combining 'Essig' (vinegar) and 'Äther' (ether).
In the news
The article mentions esters as part of the diverse organic groups identified in Enceladus's plume, serving as evidence of complex chemical building blocks rather than proof of life.
Enceladus sprays water, phosphates, molecular hydrogen and complex organics straight out of its buried ocean — and a 2025 analysis found previously unseen organic compounds in freshly ejected ice, adding still more steps to the chemical pathways that c
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com