Question

Analyze the reaction given above and identify 'X' from the following options.
${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH(aq)}+\text{X}\stackrel{\text{acid}}{\to }{\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{COOCH}}_2{\text{CH}}_3\text{(aq)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\text{(aq)}$

• A. ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$
• B. ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$
• C. ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}$
• D. ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}$

Answer 1

The correct option is B ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$

The given reaction is an esterification reaction in which alcohol reacts with carboxylic acid to form ester. Here, the ester "ethyl propanoate" is formed by the combination of ethanol and propanoic acid. The reaction will occur as follows:

${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH (aq)}+{\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH (aq)}\to {\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{COOCH}}_2{\text{CH}}_3\text{(aq)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\text{(aq)}$

Therefore, the compound X is propanoic acid ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$ which belongs to the family of carboxylic acids.