Question

Heating a mixture of ethanol and ethanoic acid in presence of conc. ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$ produces a fruity smelling compound. This reaction is called __________ reaction.

• A. neutralisation
• B. substitution
• C. esterification
• D. hydrogenation

Answer 1

The correct option is C esterification

$C_2{H}_5\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\underset{\Delta }{\overset{\mathrm{con}.H_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COOC}}_2{H}_5\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+H_{2}O\left(l\right)\mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid}\mathrm{Ethyl}\mathrm{ethanoate}\mathrm{Water}$

The above reaction involves the formation of an ester (ethyl ethanoate) by heating ethanol and ethanoic acid in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid. This reaction is called esterification reaction.