Ch3co3

Adding distilled water to this mixture will eradicate any traces of salt (sodium ethanoate and sodium sulfate) and remaining soluble impurities when it is discarded (AUS-e-TUTE. 2015.) Any remaining traces of ethanoic acid and sulfuric acid is neutralised by sodium carbonate (as shown in equation 1) (Fischer esterification reaction), which is converted to soluble sodium sulfate, sodium ethanoate and carbon dioxide which is released by inverting the separating funnel, and opening the tap.
Equation 1:
Ethanoic Acid + Sodium Carbonate  Sodium Ethanoate + Carbon Dioxide + Water
CH3COOH(aq) + Na2CO3(aq)  CH3COO-Na+(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Equation 2:
Sulfuric Acid + Sodium Carbonate  Sodium Sulfate + Carbon Dioxide + Water
H2SO4(aq) + Na2CO3(aq)  Na2SO4(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Poor yield of Ester …show more content…
The overall rate of the reaction was slow despite the addition of a catalyst. Partial loss of an ester occurred due to the remnants on the inner walls on the apparatus (‘hold up’) after the reflux procedure, this is unavoidable. It was crucial during the distillation process that the correct temperature was achieved, it being too high or low caused other reactants to distil rather than the ester or react at a slower rate. This was an equilibrium reaction which was driven both forwards and backwards due to the acid catalyst (sulfuric acid) causing the reactants to re-form and thus preventing a 100% yield of the ester (Julia Tremble. 2014). H2SO4 dehydrates alcohol as they are partially soluble in acid and