Esters are a type of organic compound. Often, they are the chemicals that give plants and foods their odors.
Common Esters
Another example of esters is fats. Fats are esters of glycerol (1,2,3-propanetriol, or glycerine).
An Example of a Fat
H O
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H--C--O--H H--O--C--CH2CH2...CH3
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| O
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H--C--O--H + H--O--C--CH2CH2...CH3
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| O
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H--C--O--H H--O--C--CH2CH2...CH3
|
H
glycerol three misc. fatty acids
||
\||/
\/
H O
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H--C--O--C--CH2CH2...CH3
|
| O
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H--C--O--C--CH2CH2...CH3
|
| O
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H--C--O--C--CH2CH2...CH3
|
H
triester of glycerol (fat)
Credit to Avis Rapax because I didn't know about 2-methylpropyl ethanoate until I saw his writeup