The compound that is an alkanoate is CH3COOCH3. An alkanoate is a salt or an ester of an organic acid that contains a carbonyl group (-CO-) bonded to an oxygen atom (-O-) that is in turn bonded to an alkyl group. CH3COOCH3 is an ester of acetic acid (CH3COOH) and methanol (CH3OH), which is formed by the condensation reaction between the carboxylic acid and alcohol. This ester has the characteristic -COO- functional group and an alkyl group, which makes it an alkanoate. CH3COOH is acetic acid, a carboxylic acid. CH3CH2OH is ethanol, a primary alcohol. CH3CH2COOH is propanoic acid, a carboxylic acid.