esters UPDATED

how are esters formed

from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid

alcohol + carboxylic acid ->

ester + water

what is usually used during the alcohol + carboxylic acid reaction

an acid catalyst e.g concentrated sulfuric acid

what do the names of the esters end in

- oate e.g ethyl ethanoat

where does the esters name come from/ naming esters

- alcohol forms first part of ester's ame

- acid forms 2nd part

practical - making ethyl ethanoate

- add few drops conc sulfuric acid to boiling tube using a dropping pipette

- add about 10 drops ethanoic acid

- add an equal vol of ethanol

- place boiling tube in beaker of water

- place this on tripod

- heat using bunsen until water starts to boil

- then turn off bunsen

- after 1 min remove the tube + allow it to cool

- once it's cool pour the mixture into a test tube of sodium CARBONATE solution and mix

- a layer of the ester should form on top of the solution

what are esters

volatile compounds with distinctive smells

what are esters often used as

- food flavourings

- and in perfumes

what functional group do esters contain

COO