Question

explain esterification reaction with the help of a chemical equation. describe an activity to show esterification.

Answer 1

Easterification: Carboxylic acids -> esters The coversion is carried out using acid and alcohols. This is called the Fischer Esterification.

C2H5OH + CH3COOH --> CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

Activity: A few drops of H2So4 is added to ethanol and glacial acetic acid. They are placed in a warm water bath for at least five minutes and the contents are poured into a beaker containing water. Observe the resulting mixture. The odor is sweet and the substance formed is Ethyl acetate. This reaction is called esterification reaction.

Answer 2

What is Esterification reaction ?

When a carboxylic acid is treated with an alcohol and an acid catalyst, an ester is formed (along with water), That reaction is called the esterification reaction.

Equation : C2H5OH + CH3COOH → CH3COOC2H5 +  H2O

The following activity shows the esterification reaction:

• Take 1 ml of ethanol and 1 ml of glacial acetic acid along with a few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid in a test tube.

• Warm it in a water bath or a beaker containing water for at least five minutes.

• Pour the warm contents into a beaker containing 20-50 ml of water and observe the odor of the resulting mixture.

• We will notice that the resulting mixture is a sweet odored substance.  This substance is nothing but ethyl acetate, an ester.
• This reaction is called esterification reaction.