Introduction
In this experiment, isopentyl acetate was prepared by the direct esterification of acetic acid with isopentyl alcohol, which is an equilibrium that results in a shift in favor of the product by using one of the starting materials in excess. An esterification reaction is when an acid is converted into an ester by combining with an alcohol and removing a water molecule. Esters are found in numerous natural products, including fruits, flowers, and spices. Carboxyllic esters contribute to the flavor of products; therefore, esters are often found in artificial flavorings. This experiment uses glacial acetic acid in excess because it is relatively inexpensive and it is easy to remove from the reaction mixture because it contains no water,
In this experiment, isopentyl acetate was prepared by the direct esterification of acetic acid with isopentyl alcohol, which is an equilibrium that results in a shift in favor of the product by using one of the starting materials in excess. An esterification reaction is when an acid is converted into an ester by combining with an alcohol and removing a water molecule. Esters are found in numerous natural products, including fruits, flowers, and spices. Carboxyllic esters contribute to the flavor of products; therefore, esters are often found in artificial flavorings. This experiment uses glacial acetic acid in excess because it is relatively inexpensive and it is easy to remove from the reaction mixture because it contains no water,