Question

The first member of the ester homologous series is?

• A. Methyl ethanoate
• B. Ethyl ethanoate
• C. Methyl methanoate
• D. Ethyl methanoate

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Methyl methanoate

Esters are the compounds having $-\stackrel{O}{\stackrel{||}{C}}-C$ group.

Now, if we look at the first member of ester homologous series, then we would probably take H instead of R in R-COO-R

$H-\stackrel{O}{\stackrel{||}{C}}-O-H$ $\chi$

Can you see that it becomes a carboxylic acid?

$H-\stackrel{O}{\stackrel{||}{C}}-O-C{H}_3$ $✓$

So, let's now replace one H with $C{H}_3$

This is the structure of methyl methanoate.

So, option (c) is correct.