Question

what happens when ethanol is added to butanoic acid in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid. draw and name the new compound

Answer 1

Dear Student,

When ethanol is added to butanoic acid in presence of con. sulphuric acid then ethylbutanoate ester will be formed and this reaction is known as esterification.

Reaction: Ethanol + Butanoic acid + Con. Sulphuric acid ----> Ethyl Butanoate. + Water

${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{OH +\hspace{0.17em}CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{COOH}\stackrel{\mathrm{Con}.\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid}}{\to }{\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{OOCH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{+ H2O}$