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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)
CH3CO2CH3(aq) + H2O(l)
The structure of methyl
ethanoate.

ethanol + ethanoic acid
ethyl ethanoate + water.
C2H5OH(aq) + CH3CO2H(aq)
CH3CO2C2H5(aq) + H2O(l)
The structure of ethyl
ethanoate.

propanol + ethanoic acid
propyl ethanoate + water.
C3H7OH(aq) + CH3CO2H(aq)
CH3CO2C3H7(aq) + H2O(l)
The structure of propyl
ethanoate.

butanol + ethanoic acid
butyl ethanoate + water.
C4H9OH(aq) + CH3CO2H(aq)
CH3CO2C4H9(aq) + H2O(l)
The structure of butyl
ethanoate.

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