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Methanoic Acid - Reaction with Alcohols.

Methanoic acid will react with alcohols in the presence of
concentrated sulfuric acid, to form esters.
Concentrated sulfuric acid is a catalyst for this reaction.

methanol      +     methanoic acid         methyl methanoate   +   water.
CH₃OH_(aq)    +     HCO₂H_(aq)                        HCO₂CH_3(aq)   +   H₂O_(l)

Structure of methyl methanoate.

ethanol      +     methanoic acid         ethyl methanoate   +   water.
C₂H₅OH_(aq)    +     HCO₂H_(aq)                HCO₂C₂H_5(aq)   +   H₂O_(l)

Structure of ethyl methanoate.

propanol      +     methanoic acid         propyl methanoate   +   water.
C₃H₇OH_(aq)    +     HCO₂H_(aq)                        HCO₂C₃H_7(aq)   +   H₂O_(l)

Structure of propyl methanoate.

butanol       +     methanoic acid          butyl methanoate   +   water.
C₄H₉OH_(aq)    +     HCO₂H_(aq)                HCO₂C₄H_9(aq)   +   H₂O_(l)

Structure of butyl methanoate.

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