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Glite Dictionary
diester

diester

1 8.4
A chemical made when two alcohols react with an acid to form two ester groups
  • noun
  • /ˈdaɪˌɛstər/
  • Specialized
: diéster
  • The production of biodiesel often involves the formation of a diester from vegetable oil.

Examples

  • Scientists analyzed the diester content in the new synthetic lubricant.

  • A diester is commonly used as a plasticizer to make plastics more flexible.

  • A diester is formed from two alcohols and an acid.

  • Polyethylene diester is used in many applications.

  • A diester is formed when two alcohol molecules react with a carboxylic acid.

  • In the lab, we synthesized a diester using glycerol and phthalic acid.

  • Diesters are common in the production of biodegradable plastics.

Surface Forms

diester singular
diesters plural

Morphology

diester = ester (transparent) = di + ester

The chemical prefix 'di-' meaning 'two' combines directly with the noun 'ester' to indicate a molecule with two ester groups.

Etymology

Diester is built from the prefix di- meaning 'two', as in bicycle, and ester, the name for a common part of molecules often found in fats and fruity smells. So a diester is a molecule with two ester parts, which is why these compounds help make plastics flexible and are found in biodiesel.