Question

Synthesis of Banana Oil: What are the gram components of each distillate? What is the percent yield from the peak area?

2.16 mL Isopentyl alcohol, 2.3 mL glacial acetic acid, and 0.15mL of sulfuric acid was used to form 1.3407 g of "banana oil"

A gas chromatogram revealed that our final product contained 4 peaks. 1. 0.412 @ 9.90458 % area, 2. 1.481 @ 1.30885% area, 3. 1.722 @ 3.14633% area, and 4. 2.040 @ 85.64024% area. How can I calculate the percent yield from each peak area?

Answer 1

To answer the first question we have to multiply the mass of the distilled times the percent of each peak

Then we have for peak 1

peak 2

peak 3

peak 4

To answer the second question we have to determine the Limiting Reagent

Using the density of isopentyl alcohol we can calculate the moles of alcohol used

density = 0.8104 g /mL

Same for glacial acetic acid (here we asume 99.99% purity)

density = 1.049 g /mL

Taking in account that the mole ratio is 1:1, the acetic acid is in excess and the isopentyl alcohol the limiting reagent.

Then using the molar mass of the banana oil and supposing is that that´s the major product, we calculate

Then percentual yield

%