Experiment 9 involves a Fischer Esterification reaction, which necessitates both an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, specifically propionic acid and n-propanol, initiated by an acid catalyst to synthesize an ester. Given the fact that this is an “equilibrium-controlled reaction”, propionic acid is used in immense excess to produce the desired ester and avoid the reverse reaction from occurring. Not using a surfeit of solvent, in this experiment being the carboxylic acid, will cause the resulting ester to be comprised of residual acid and alcohol, leaving an impure product. For the equilibrium reaction to take place, the mixed solution of the carboxylic acid and alcohol must be refluxed to its maximum rate to be able to attain the highest quantity of ester product. Once the reaction was cooled to room temperature, a base, sodium bicarbonate is added to neutralize acid impurities from the ester. An extraction process is performed to remove the organic layer (n-propyl propionate) from the aqueous layer. The remaining product after three extractions were performed is the n-propyl propionate with a slight contamination of water. The original present water will be removed when sodium sulfate is added to the liquid. The resulting liquid should be a “pure” ester. An IR spectrum…show more content… The conical vial smelt like fermented pineapple indicating the desired ester was being synthesized. When the dehydrating agent, sodium sulfate was placed into the liquid to separate the ester from water impurity, it took a large amount to create a free flowing solution. To further purify the ester, a distillation process was performed using a Hickman still and a water condenser. Throughout the distillation, the amount of liquid in the still head would increase over time, but around the point where there was only a small amount of liquid in the conical vial the amount of ester being distilled
