In the experiment, a Fischer Esterification reaction took place in order to convert a carboxylic acid into an ester. As a result of this reaction, the alcohol (-OH) of the original carboxylic acid, Benzoic Acid, will be replaced with the –OCH3 group attached to the original alcohol, methanol. This would then generate the ester, Methyl Benzoate. An ester is a derivative of a carboxylic acid that can be formed in multiple ways. The most straightforward approach to producing and ester involves the interaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, where the oxygen of the alcohol would act as the nucleophile and the carboxylic acid takes the role of the electrophile. Alcohols are not great nucleophiles, while carboxylic acids can be classified as terrible electrophiles. This
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In the Conical vial, the 3 mL of Benzoic Acid were allowed to react with sulfuric acid. The rice stir bar was necessary in order to evenly mix the solution as the reaction occurred. The reaction was heated (200oC) following the addition to the reflux condenser, which had a steady flow of water. After 30 minutes, the conical vial could be removed from the hotplate and poured into 5 mL of water which was cooled in an ice bath to ensure the solution was below room temperature. Once cooled, 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate could then be added until the solution had a pH near 8, as indicated using the pH paper. Following the addition of 3 mL diethyl ether, the Separatory Funnel could be utilized in order to separate the organic and aqueous layers of the solution. The same funnel process was performed after the addition of 3 mL of saturated Sodium Chloride solution to the previously isolated organic layer. Once separated, sodium sulfate could be used to dry the product followed by the addition of 1-2 drops of product to 1 mL of diethyl ether, yielding the desired
In the Conical vial, the 3 mL of Benzoic Acid were allowed to react with sulfuric acid. The rice stir bar was necessary in order to evenly mix the solution as the reaction occurred. The reaction was heated (200oC) following the addition to the reflux condenser, which had a steady flow of water. After 30 minutes, the conical vial could be removed from the hotplate and poured into 5 mL of water which was cooled in an ice bath to ensure the solution was below room temperature. Once cooled, 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate could then be added until the solution had a pH near 8, as indicated using the pH paper. Following the addition of 3 mL diethyl ether, the Separatory Funnel could be utilized in order to separate the organic and aqueous layers of the solution. The same funnel process was performed after the addition of 3 mL of saturated Sodium Chloride solution to the previously isolated organic layer. Once separated, sodium sulfate could be used to dry the product followed by the addition of 1-2 drops of product to 1 mL of diethyl ether, yielding the desired