Originally posted by: DrPizza
As simple as your question is, I don't understand what kind of answer you're looking for.
Are you wondering what it's used for? As far as what it is, it's an organic compound. More specifically, it's a carboxylic acid ester.
So, if you're wondering what an ester is, you can look that up. (an analogy is that at this point, you're figuring out what wood is; this is a specific type of wood, like oak.)
Here's a simple enough link on esters:
wiki link, good enough
Now, more specifically, your ester: ethyl levulinate.
Also known by a bunch of other names. I personally like ethyl 3-acetyl propionate. Or, ethyl acetyl propanoate.
It's soluble in water and alcohol (among other things). It has an odor described by people with the terms "It smells kinda sweet to me" "It smells fruity to me" "It smells...": berry, floral, green, pineapple, rhubarb
Taste descriptions are: fruity, green, waxy, and melon
It's appearance ranges from colorless to a pale yellow clear liquid
It has roughly the same density as water.
It's one of the compounds used in a variety of products to help give the odor and/or flavor of: apples, grapes, green, melons (various types), olive, pear, pineapple, rhubarb, rum, smoky, and waxy.
Has a flash point a little below the boiling point of water, although its own boiling point is just above the boiling point of water. Its refractive index is also similar to that of water. Recommendations for its use are 6% for a fragrance concentrate or 40 parts per million for flavor.
It's naturally occurring in cocoa, garlic, onion, and wine.
What else do you want to know about it?