Question

When alcohol and acetic acid are mixed together in equimolar ratio at 27°c, 33% of each is converted into ester.then the kc for the equilibrium?

Answer 1

The reaction of formation of ester can be shown as follows:

$CH_3COOH + C_2H_5OH          CH_3COOC_2H_5  + H_2O$

$c - c\alpha$    $c - c\alpha$  $c\alpha$

1 – 1/3  1 – 1/3                       1 /3

2 /3  2 /3

The equilibrium contant can be determined as:

$K = [CH_3COOC_2H_5] /[ CH_3COOH] [C_2H_5OH]$

$K = (1 /3) /(2 /3) (2 /3)$

$K = 3 /4$

Thus, equilibrium constant value is 3 /4