Uses of esters
3 marks · NormalEsters are added to both food and perfumes.
Explain why esters are suitable for use in each of these products. Give a reason for each use.
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Esters are suitable for use in food because they provide fruity flavours. They are suitable for use in perfumes because they have pleasant smells and are volatile, so they evaporate easily.
Also accept: food: provide flavouring/fruity tastes; perfumes: they smell nice/are volatile/evaporate easily
Common mistakes: Gives only one use or repeats the same reason for both
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · Correct reason for food (e.g. fruity flavours)
B2 · 1 mark · Correct reason for perfumes (e.g. pleasant smell and volatile)
B3 · 1 mark · Clear, structured explanation with reference to both uses
Worked solution
Esters are used in food because they have fruity tastes that improve flavours. For perfumes, they have pleasant, distinctive smells and are volatile, so the scent is easily noticed.