ACTIVITY: MODELING THE SYNTHESIS OF ESTERS
Goal: During this activity students will
1) construct molecular models of a selection of alcohols and carboxylic acids and then "react"
them to make the corresponding esters and
2) understand that esters and water are produced from reactions between alcohols and
carboxylic acids.
Safety:
Always wear your safety goggles on the Mobile Chemistry Lab.
Procedure:
1. Using the molecular model kits, build the following two molecules:
acetic acid
octyl alcohol
O
H2
C
C
H3C
OH
HO
H2
C
C
H2
H2
C
C
H2
H2
C
C
H2
CH3
Form a new compound, an ester, by first removing the –OH group from the acid and then the
–H atom from the oxygen in the alcohol. Now join together what remains of each of these
molecules. Write the structural formula for the new molecule produced.
What is the second product of the reaction between the alcohol and acid?
Exp. 8 Page
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2. Follow the same directions as are described in #1 but use the acid and alcohol listed below in
place of the two used in # 1.
(a)
Carboxylic acid
acetic acid
Alcohol
isoamyl alcohol
H3C
O
H3C
OH
(b) butyric acid
C
H2
H3 C
(c)
H3C
OH
butyric acid
H3 C
OH
(d) salicylic acid
benzyl butyrate
H2
C
H
C
C
C
H2
OH
benzyl alcohol
O
H2
C
ethyl butyrate
H2
C
C
C
H2
OH
ethyl alcohol
O
H2
C
H2
C
CH
C
H3C
Ester Product
isoamyl acetate
HC
C
OH
HC
CH
C
H
methyl alcohol
methyl salicylate
O
H
C
HC
C
C
HC
OH
H3C
OH
C
C
H
OH
Exp. 8 Page
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