Ester Reaction Lab Report

To improve the yield of the ester the reaction should be heated using a high temperature. This would favour the formation of the products in this reaction, as the formation of an ester (esterification) is an endothermic reaction. Thus use of a high temperature will push the equilibrium to the right hand side, and a larger yield of the ester will be produced.

To improve the yield of the Ester the reaction mixture could be refluxed for longer period of time so that more reactants are converted into products, and hence a sufficient heating period so that equilibrium can be established, and thus a larger yield of the ester can be formed. This would also allow the particles in the reaction to gain sufficient energy to overcome the activation energy barrier for successful collision to produce the ester.

An increased concentration of one of the reactants (e.g. the acid or alcohol) could be used to push the equilibrium to the right, and thus improve the yield of ester. This …show more content…
The Dean Stark apparatus periodically removes water from the reaction, and hence favours forward reaction of esterification. Water is a very common product in many organic solvent mixtures and it is very difficult to get rid of all the water present in some one these organic mixtures such as ester. Using the Dean Stark apparatus (pictured below) water can be removed from the mixture by using a piece of glassware, which separates the ester from the water. When the mixture boils in the distillation flask it and rises through the L junction and into the Liebig condenser when the water and ester vapour condenses. The liquid water then collects in a separate zone in a tap or collected tube underneath the condenser with the water forming a layer on the bottom and the organic a layer on