In: Chemistry
Fischer Esterification: Synthesis of Isoamyl Acetate (Banana Oil)
4)
a) What is the role of sulfuric acid in the reaction?
b) Why is the mixture extracted with sodium bicarbonate? Your answer should include a chemical equation to explain why gas bubbles are observed and identify the gas.
c) What is brine and why is it used?
a). The carboxylic acid in Fischer esterification is protonated in the presence of an acid. The carbonyl oxygen is protonated as it is the most nucleophilic site. Protonation of the carbonyl makes the carbonyl carbon a stronger electrophile. This is then acted upon by the alcohol to produce the ester molecule.
Therefore, the acid is being used in the reaction as a catalyst to protonate the carbonyl carbon of carboxylic acid.
b). An acid catalyst is being used in Fischer esterification reaction. In order to extract the ester, sodium carbonate is used to remove the excess of the acid from the catalyst.
Bubbles are observed because of the evolution of carbon dioxide.
The reaction is as follows:
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c). Brine is nothing but salt water. The ester product formed is stabilized using brine water that neutralizes the traces of acid that is present with sodium bicarbonate.