Ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid. What are the organic product and the role of the sulfuric acid?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Ethyl ethanoate, with the acid acting as a catalyst for this esterification reaction
- Step 1: An alcohol and a carboxylic acid react in a condensation (esterification) reaction.
- Step 2: Ethanol supplies the ethyl group and ethanoic acid supplies the ethanoate group, giving ethyl ethanoate and water.
- Step 3: Concentrated sulfuric acid speeds the reaction without being consumed, so it is a catalyst.
Answer
ethyl ethanoate, with a catalytic acid.
Why not the others: Sulfuric acid is not consumed; ethanal is an oxidation product; diethyl ether needs different conditions.
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