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search Ball-and-stick model of the acetate anion Molecular
formula CH Molar mass 59 g mol-1 Infobox references  Acetate
/ˈæsɪtt/ is a negative ion, or anion, typically found in aqueous
solution. It is often written with the chemical formula C2H3O2.
The neutral molecules formed by the combination of the acetate
ion and a positive ion (or cation) are also commonly called
"acetates". The simplest of these is hydrogen acetate, or acetic
acid, with corresponding salts, esters, and the polyatomic anion
CH3CO2, or CH3COO.  Most of the approximately 5 billion
kilograms of acetic acid produced annually in industry are used
in the production of acetates, which usually take the form of
polymers. In nature, acetate is the most common building block
for biosynthesis. For example, the fatty acids are produced by
connecting the two carbon atoms from acetate to a growing fatty
acid.[1]  Nomenclature and common formula[edit]  When part of a
salt, the formula of the ac