Products from Oil

The Reaction of Butanoic Acid with Alcohols to make Esters.

Butanoic 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   +  butanoic acid    methyl butanoate  +  water.
CH₃OH_(aq)  +  C₃H₇CO₂H_(aq)    C₃H₇CO₂CH_3(aq)  +  H₂O_(l)

The structure of methyl butanoate.

ethanol  +  butanoic acid       ethyl butanoate   +   water.
C₂H₅OH_(aq) + C₃H₇CO₂H_(aq)   C₃H₇CO₂C₂H_5(aq) + H₂O_(l)

The structure of ethyl butanoate.

propanol    +   butanoic acid     propyl butanoate  +  water.
C₃H₇OH_(aq) +  C₃H₇CO₂H_(aq)    C₃H₇CO₂C₃H_7(aq) + H₂O_(l)

The structure of propyl butanoate.

butanol    +   butanoic acid       butyl butanoate  +  water.
C₄H₉OH_(aq) +  C₃H₇CO₂H_(aq)    C₃H₇CO₂C₄H_9(aq) + H₂O_(l)

The structure of butyl butanoate.

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