Ethyl acetate Fischer equilibrium mentioned above. In the laboratory, and usually for illustrative purposes only, ethyl esters are typically hydrolyzed in a two-step process starting with a stoichiometric amount of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide. This reaction gives ethanol and sodium acetate, which is unreactive toward ethanol: The rate constant is 0.111 L/mol·s at 25 °C. The for rats is 5620 mg/kg, indicating low toxicity. Given that the chemical is naturally present in many organisms, there is little risk of toxicity. Overexposure to ethyl acetate may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Severe overexposure may cause weakness, drowsiness,
Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide form that is typically quoted in the commercially available material from chemical supply companies. Dilute solutions of 30 to 60% MEKP are used in industry and by hobbyists as the catalyst which initiates the crosslinking of unsaturated polyester resins used in fiberglass, and casting. For this application, MEKP is dissolved in dimethyl phthalate, cyclohexane peroxide, or diallyl phthalate to reduce sensitivity to shock. Benzoyl peroxide can be used for the same purpose. MEKP is a severe skin irritant and can cause progressive corrosive damage or blindness. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is an organic peroxide, a