Ethyl lactate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a mild odor. Flash point 115°F. Denser than water and soluble in water. Vapors heavier than air. Ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate is the ethyl ester obtained of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid. It has a role as a metabolite. It is a secondary alcohol, a lactate ester and an ethyl ester. It derives from a 2-hydroxypropanoic acid.