Final answer:
The general formula of an ester is R-CO-OR', where R represents a hydrogen or carbon chain and R' represents a carbon chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general formula of an ester is R-CO-OR'. Esters are organic compounds that result from the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, where the hydrogen atom in the hydroxyl group of the carboxylic acid is replaced by an alkyl or aryl group represented by R'.
In the structure of an ester, R can be either a hydrogen or a carbon chain, but to qualify as an ester, R' must represent a carbon chain; if R' were hydrogen, the compound would be a carboxylic acid instead. Esters are known for their characteristic sweet and fruity odors and are commonly used in fragrances and flavorings.
An ester is an organic compound that is a derivative of a carboxylic acid in which the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group has been replaced with an alkyl group. The structure is the product of a carboxylic acid (the R-portion) and an alcohol (the R'-portion). The general formula for an ester is R-CO-OR'.