Products from Oil

The Reaction of Ethanoic Acid with Alcohols to make Esters.

Ethanoic 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  +  ethanoic acid    methyl ethanoate  +  water.
CH₃OH_(aq) +  CH₃CO₂H_(aq)      CH₃CO₂CH_3(aq) +  H₂O_(l)

The structure of methyl ethanoate.

ethanol    +   ethanoic acid      ethyl ethanoate  +  water.
C₂H₅OH_(aq)  +  CH₃CO₂H_(aq)    CH₃CO₂C₂H_5(aq) +  H₂O_(l)

The structure of ethyl ethanoate.

propanol   +  ethanoic acid     propyl ethanoate  +  water.
C₃H₇OH_(aq)  +  CH₃CO₂H_(aq)    CH₃CO₂C₃H_7(aq)  +  H₂O_(l)

The structure of propyl ethanoate.

butanol    +   ethanoic acid        butyl ethanoate   +   water.
C₄H₉OH_(aq) + CH₃CO₂H_(aq)        CH₃CO₂C₄H_9(aq)  +  H₂O_(l)

The structure of butyl ethanoate.

          Links          Esters          Revision Questions          

gcsescience.com     Contents     The Periodic Table     Index     Quizzes    gcsescience.com

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.