In: Chemistry
Fischer Esterification
Acetic Acid + Ethanol in the presence of Dowex, a solid catalyst. 4 samples were placed in 4 tubes, heated in a water bath.
Test tube 4 was left in the water bath overnight. When testing sample #4 with GC and NMR, one product was expected - the ester, ethyl acetate. However a small portion of acetic acid was present. I understand acetic acid is often used in excess (La Chat) but the ethanol was in equal ratio to the acetic acid, so should it not have appeared as well? I know its an equilibrium, but if one is present, wouldn't both acetic acid and ethanol be there if it had gone in reverse?