Esters

Carboxylic acid + alcohol

Ester + water
Concentrated H2SO4 and distillation

Reaction notes for producing esters

Reversible reaction
Ester is distilled before it is hydrolysed

Purpose of H=+ is esterification

Acts as a catalyst
It is a dehydration agent so removes water and shifts equilibrium to the right

Esters are

Sweet smelling and water soluble

Naming and ester

(alcohol chain) yl (carboxylic acid chain) oate

propanoic acid + ethanol

ethylpropanoate + water

Esters are solvents

They're used to dissolve polar organic material

Esters are plasiticides

Added to polymers to make them flexible

Biodiesel is

A mixture of methyl esters and long-chain carboxylic acids
E.g. Rapeseed oil (triglyceride) hydrolysed using CH3OH and KOH

Acid hydrolysis reaction

ester + water -> water + carboxylic acid
with dilute HCL

alkaline hydrolysis

Ester + alkali -> alcohol + carboxylic acid salt
Soaponification allows water and oil to mix