Which of the following statements about esters is TRUE?

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Study for the MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Exam. Practice with multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations and hints. Excel in your exam and achieve your target score!

Esters are indeed named based on the acid from which they are derived, which supports the choice regarding the naming convention of esters. When naming an ester, the name consists of two parts: the alkyl (or aryl) group derived from the alcohol and the acid part derived from the carboxylic acid. For example, in ethyl acetate, the "ethyl" part comes from ethanol, and "acetate" indicates it is derived from acetic acid. This systematic naming reflects the structure of the ester and the specific components involved in its formation.

Understanding the characteristics and behavior of esters is also important. They are generally liquids at room temperature, contrary to the first statement. While many esters can have distinct odors, particularly those with smaller alkyl chains, they do not fall under the category of having "no odor." Lastly, esters are not entirely unreactive; they can participate in various organic reactions, such as hydrolysis and transesterification, which contradicts the statement about their reactivity. Therefore, the proper naming of esters based on their source acid is the accurate and true statement among the options provided.

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