Question

Write a fully balanced equation for each of the following cases.

(v) Acetic acid is warmed with ethanol in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid.

Answer 1

Acetic acid:

1. When Acetic acid reacts with Ethanol in the presence of concentrated Sulphuric acid, it gives a sweet fruity smelling ester called Ethyl Ethanoate and water.
2. This process is called esterification.

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}+{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COOC}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} \\ \mathrm{Acetic}\mathrm{acid}\mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Ethyl}\mathrm{acetate}\mathrm{Water} \end{gathered}$$