Ethyl formate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Flash point -4°F. Less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air.Ethyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with ethanol. It has a role as a fumigant and a plant metabolite. It is a formate ester and an ethyl ester.

Ethyl formate is used as a solvent for nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, etc., as well as a bactericide, larvicide and fumigant for food, cigarettes, cereals, dried fruits and other products.As a flavoring agent, ethyl formate can be used to blend the aromas of peach, banana, apple, apricot, pineapple, berries and others. It can also serve as a flavoring for butter, brandy, liqueur, whiskey and other alcoholic beverages.Ethyl formate is also an intermediate in organic synthesis. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, it is used in the production of the antitumor drug floxuridine and vitamin B1.Condensation of ethyl formate with acetone in a sodium methoxide-xylene solution yields sodium acetyl vinyl alcoholate.Condensation with acetyl glycinate followed by cyclization with potassium thiocyanate yields ethyl 2-mercaptoimidazole-4-carboxylate.Ethyl formate is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals such as houttuynin, carbamazepine, metenolone, pyrantel, temephos, leucogen, and synthetic anisodamine.