Question

The relative order of esterification of alcohols is :-

• A. $1^{\circ }<2^{\circ }<3^{\circ }$
• B. $1^{\circ }>2^{\circ }>3^{\circ }$
• C. $1^{\circ }>3^{\circ }>2^{\circ }$
• D. $1^{\circ }<3^{\circ }<2^{\circ }$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $1^{\circ }>2^{\circ }>3^{\circ }$

Esterification is the process of combining an organic acid (RCOOH) with an alcohol (ROH) to form an ester (RCOOR) and water; or a chemical reaction resulting in the formation of at least one ester product. Ester is obtained by an esterification reaction of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.

$\text{Acid + Alcohol}\stackrel{H^{+}}{\rightleftharpoons }\underset{FruitySmell}{\text{Ester}}+\text{Water}$

The relative order of esterification of alcohols is $1^{\circ }>2^{\circ }>3^{\circ }.$ Thus as the steric hinderance (or bulkiness) increases from primary to secondary to tertiary alcohol, the removal of $H^{+}$ will be difficult, hence the order of esterification dectreases.