Question

Name the reaction takes place when ethanoic acid reacts with ethanol.

Answer 1

The reaction of alcohol with an organic acid in the presence of concentrated Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ forms ester and Water as the major product. This reaction is known as esterification reaction.

The reaction of Ethanoic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$ and Ethanol $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\right)$ forms ester that is Ethyl ethanoate $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5{\mathrm{COOCH}}_3\right)$ and Water.

Chemical reaction

The chemical reaction of Ethanoic acid and Ethanol is written as:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}+{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\stackrel{\mathrm{conc}.{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4}{\to }{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5{\mathrm{COOCH}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} \\ (\mathrm{Ethanoic}(\mathrm{Ethanol})(\mathrm{Ethyl}\mathrm{ethanoate})(\mathrm{Water}) \\ \mathrm{acid}) \end{gathered}$$