Ethyl methacrylate is the organic compound with the formula C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CC(CH<sub>3</sub>)=CH<sub>2</sub>. A colorless liquid, it is a common monomer for the preparation of acrylate polymers. It is typically polymerized under free-radical conditions.
Ethyl methacrylate was first obtained by treating ethyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate with phosphorus pentachloride in a dehydration reaction.
The related methyl and butyl methacrylates have respective acute s of 10 and 20 g/kg (oral, rat); a linear extrapolation suggests that ethyl methacrylate would have an LD<sub>50</sub> of approximately 13 g/kg.
Acrylate esters irritate the eyes and can cause blindness.