Esterfication Lab

Purpose: to synthesize an ester from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

Materials:
-isopropyl alcohol
-methanol
-salicylic acid
-acetic acid
-concentrated sulphuric acid
-2 x 200 mL beakers
-ice
-water
-eye droppers
-test tubes

Background: esterfication is the formation of an ester from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol

Esters are responsible for many common smells.
Ester, alcohol, acid:
banana, isopentyl alcohol, acetic acid
orange, octyl alcohol, acetic acid
wintergreen, methyl alcohol, salicylic acid
raspberry, isobutyl alcohol, formic acid
pineapple, ethyl alcohol, butyric acid (smells like vomit)
pear, n-Propyl alcohol, acetic acid
rum, isobutyl alcohol, propionic acid
apple, methyl alcohol, butyric acid (smells like vomit)
pear-like, benzyl alcohol, acetic acid
perfume, isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid

Procedure:

1. For this experiment, the mixtures must be heated by a boiling hot water bath. Use a hot plate to heat up about 150 mL of water (in a beaker) for the water bath.

Methyl Salicylate

1. .
2. Add one scoop of Salicylic acid to a test tube.
3. Add 15 drops of methanol to the same test tube
4. Add 2-4 drops of Sulphuric acid(which is very corrosive)
5. Place the test tube in the hot water bath for 15 minutes and place a 10 mL beaker over the test tube.
6. Cool the test tbe in the ice water bath for 2 minutes
7. Carefully smell the test tube by wafting the fumes towards your nose.
8. If there is no apparent smell, pour the contents of the test tube into a small beaker of water and try again.

Ethyl ethanoate

1. .
2. Add 10 drops of acetic acid to a test tube.
3. add 10 drops of ethanol to the same test tube.
4. add 2-4 drops of sulphuric acid (corrosive, caution!)
5. place the test tube in the hot water bath for 15 minutes and place a 10 mL beaker over the test tube.
6. cool the test tube in the ice water bath for 2 minutes
7. carefully smell the test tube by wafting the fumes towards your nose.
8. if there is no apparent smell, pour the contents of the test tube into a small beaker of water and try again.

Observations:

We made the wintergreen scent, and it smelled like A535 lotion. It smelled delightful and swell.