Ethyl acetoacetate appears as a colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Flash point 185°F. Boiling point 365°F. May cause adverse health effects if ingested or inhaled. May irritate to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Used in organic synthesis and in lacquers and paints.Ethyl acetoacetate is an ethyl ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of acetoacetic acid with ethanol. It has a role as a flavouring agent, an antibacterial agent and a plant metabolite. It derives from an acetoacetic acid.

1. Ethyl acetoacetate is an important raw material for organic synthesis, used as an intermediate for pesticide synthesis, and also widely applied in medicine, plastics, dyestuffs, spices, varnishes, additives and other industries.

2. Used for the detection of thallium and the determination of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and copper; as a complexometric indicator for the determination of ferric iron; and as a stationary phase for gas chromatography.