This lab succeeded in producing three unique esters from three different esterification reactions. Methyl salicylate was produced from the reaction of salicylic acid and methyl alcohol. This ester smelled of sweet mint. Acetic acid and isopentyl alcohol combined to produce 2-methylbutyl acetate, which smelled strongly of banana. Ethyl acetate--which smelled of nail polish remover--was produced from acetic acid and ethyl alcohol. This ester was the only one to retain the scent of one of its reactants. One possible source of error was that the salicylic acid was incompletely dissolved in the methyl alcohol. This may have affected the strength of the scent produced by the resulting ester. In addition, the hot water used to heat the tubes
