Question

Question 19.3

Write the balanced chemical equation for the following reaction and identify the type of reaction.

Ethanol is warmed with ethanoic acid to form ethyl acetate in the presence of concentrated ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$.

Answer 1

Given below is the chemical equation for the given chemical reaction:

${\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5\text{OH (aq)}+{\text{CH}}_3\text{COOH (aq)}\stackrel{{\text{H}}^{+}}{\to }{\text{CH}}_3{\text{COOC}}_2{\text{H}}_5\text{(aq)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O(l)}$

It is an esterification reaction as an alcohol (ethyl alcohol) is reacting with an acid (carboxylic acid) to form ester (sweet smelling substance) and water.