Esterfication

Abstract: When Ethanol and Methanoic acid were reacted together (in the presence of sulphuric
acid) the odour produced was a rum odour. The solution of Ethanol and Methanoic
acid had to be placed on ice for the odour to be detected.
Theory: When an alcohol is reacted with a carboxylic acid (in the presence of sulphuric acid)
the product produced will be water and an ester. Water will be produced because the
OH molecule from the carboxylic acid will combine with the H atom from the alcohol
by the process of dehydration synthesis. fter dehydration synthesis has occurred the
carbon atom from the carboxylic acid will combine with the oxygen atom from the
alcohol! producing an ester. When ethanol and Methanoic acid are reacted the resulting
ester would ha"e an odour of rum essence.

Apparatus:
Methanoic acid
Ethanol
#ulphuric acid
Test tube
Water
Thermometer
Method:
$) Ethanol and Methanoic acid was placed in a clean dry test tube.
%) Eight drops of concentrated sulphuric acid was added to the reactants.
&) The test tube was loosely sealed and placed in a hot water bath ('()*) for $(
minutes.
+) The test tube was remo"ed from the water bath and using the odour was smelt
using the hand wafting method.
() The odour was not detected so the test tube contents were poured into a small
bea,er containing crushed ice and then the odour was noted.
Observations:
-ea,er
*rushed .ce
/ropper
#afety 0lasses
1ubber #topper
1eactants -efore /uring fter
Methanoic cid *lear li2uid
*olourless
Water
bubbling
0as is starting
to condense
("isible)
1um odour
detected (after
being placed
on ice)
Ethanol *lear li2uid
*olourless
Water
bubbling
0as is starting
to condense
("isible)
1um odour
detected (after
being placed
on ice)
#ulphuric cid *lear li2uid
*olourless
Water
bubbling
0as is starting
to condense
("isible)
1um odour
detected (after
being placed
on ice)
Experimental
Uncertainties:
$) rubber stopper was placed on top of the test tube howe"er it was not
secured. This means some gas escaped which would wea,en the resulting
odour.

%) When heating the hot water bath! the temperature was not ,ept consistent.
.t would range from '3453)*. This means the reaction was either slowed
or sped up! this would affect the intensity of the produced odour.

&) When the contents of the test tube were placed on ice! the ice was partially
melted. This means that the contents of the test tube got diluted which
would ha"e decreased the strength of the odour.
Conclusion: When Ethanol and Methanoic acid were reacted in the presence of sulphuric acid! the
odour produced will be rum.
Extension Questions:
$.) The sulphuric acid ser"ed as a catalyst which sped up the reaction
between Ethanol and Methanoic acid.
%.) The odour will be enhanced when placed on ice because the ice will
slow down the reaction process. This means the ice will preser"e the
ester (as a li2uid) which allows the odour to be detected easier.
&.) The Oxygen atoms in an ester come from both the *arboxylic acid and
the lcohol. The carboxylic acid loses the OH and the alcohol loses the
H when forming water (dehydration synthesis).
+.) #alicylic acid is treated with acetic anhydride! this chemical reaction
causes the phenol group (located in salicylic acid) to turn into an acetyl
group. The products formed are spirin and cetic acid (sulphuric acid
is used as a catalyst). The correct ester name is %4acetoxyben6oic acid.
(.) #alicylic acid is also used in ma,ing wintergreen. Howe"er! in
wintergreen! the phenol group does not change and the acid is
combined with methanol. The OH from the acid will combine with the
H from the alcohol (through dehydration synthesis) producing water.
'.) n alcohol used in fats and oils is 0lycerol (propane4$!%!&4triol) and
the acid used is #tearic acid (octadecanoic acid).
Esterfication
-y7 1ishi #harma
Mr. #adacharan
Tuesday! October %3
th
%338
#*H+9$