Question

Name the products formed when ethanol reacts with acetic acid in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid. Write the chemical equation for this reaction.

Answer 1

Reaction of Ethanol and Acetic acid in the presence of concentrated Sulphuric acid

1. Ethanol$\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\right)$ on reaction with Acetic acid$\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$ in presence of conc. Sulphuric acid$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$, Ethyl acetate$\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COOC}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\right)$ with the fruity smell is formed.
2. The reaction is called esterification, the product being ester, Ethyl acetate.
3. The chemical equation can be represented as indicated below:

$\underset{\left(\mathrm{Ethanol}\right)}{{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Acetic}\mathrm{acid}\right)}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{Conc}.{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }\underset{\left(\mathrm{Ethyl}\mathrm{acetate}\right)}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COOC}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$