Ester Synthesis

Procedure:

Part I.

1.-Put 150 mL of water in a beaker and heat it to 70° C. (hot water bath)
2. – Pour 2 mL of methanol and 0.7 g of salicylic acid in the test tube. Add 5-8 drops of concentrated sulfuric acid.
3. – Place the test tube in the hot water bath and let it rest for a 10 minute period.
4. – Cool the test tube by placing it inside another beaker that contains 150 mL of cold water. Add 5 mL of distilled water into the test tube.
5. – Sense the scent with attention (it can be similar to fruits, plants, vegetables, or animals). If you can´t perceive a distinctive smell gently place a rubber stopper on the test tube mouth to let the gases accumulate a little then take it off and smell again.
Part II.
6. – Put 1 mL of acetic acid in a test tube. Add 2 mL of 1-octanol and 4 drops of concentrated H2SO4. Place the test tube in the hot water bath and let it rest for a 10 minute period. If you can´t perceive a distinctive smell gently place a rubber stopper on the test tube mouth to let the gases accumulate a little then take it off and smell again.

7. – Repeat the previous procedure but, this time use a different alcohol. The quantities are: 1 mL of acetic acid with 2 mL of 1-pentanol and 4 drops of concentrated H2SO4. Heat it up like before and record your results in the table below. If you can´t perceive a distinctive smell gently place a rubber stopper on the test tube mouth to let the gases accumulate a little then take it off and smell again