Lab 6: Fischer Esterification

Question 1

Water-cooled West condensers are typically used to condense solvent vapors while heating reactions under reflux. What is the proper port for the coolant water?

Answer 1

The bottom port

Question 2

What gas is formed during the sodium bicarbonate extraction of a reaction mixture containing an alcohol, an ester, aqueous sulfuric acid, and aqueous acetic acid?

Answer 2

CO2

Question 3

In this experiment, after the reaction, the mixture is washed with water and then aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. Why?

Answer 3

They remove acetic acid and sulfuric acid from the reaction mixture (reactants)

Question 4

What is the identity of glacial acetic acid?

Answer 4

pure, anhydrous acetic acid

Question 5

What is the IUPAC name for acetic acid?

Answer 5

ethanoic acid

Question 6

What are the two classes of compounds that are used as reactants in a fischer esterification

Answer 6

carboxylic acid and alcohol

Question 7

What is the IUPAC name for isopentyl alcohol

Answer 7

3-methyl 1-butanol

Question 8

What is the by product formed in the experiment where isoamyl acetate is the main product?

Answer 8

water

Question 9

The reaction of isopentyl alcohol with acetic acid to form isopentyl acetate is reversible. What could you do to increase the yield of isopentyl acetate?

Answer 9

use a large excess of water

Question 10

A distillation is performed on a sample containing compounds with boiling points that range from 69-197C. Which compound is likely predominant in the first fraction of liquid to distill?

Answer 10

hexane