When ethanoic acid reacts with sodium, a compound B called the sodium ethanoate (CH3COONa) is formed.
The alcohol, C, is methanol (CH3OH) which is treated with ethanoic acid in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid to form a compound D.
The sweet-smelling compound D is methyl ethanoate (CH3COOCH3).
The chemical equation for the above stated reaction is as follows:
CH3OH + CH3COOH → CH3COOCH3 + H2O
When ethanoic acid reacts with alcohol in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid, a sweet-smelling cmpound, ester is formed. Methyl ethanoate is a carboxylate ester, which on reaction with sodium hydroxide gives back methanol and Sodium ethanoate.
The chemical equation is as follows:
CH3COOCH3 + NaOH → CH3COONa + CH3OH