Esterification

Source: Lara Al Hariri at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA

1. Preparation of the LaboratoryExpand

   Here, we show the laboratory preparation for 10 students working in pairs, with some excess. Please adjust quantities as needed.

   • First, put on a lab coat, safety glasses, and nitrile gloves. Note: Some of the reagents are volatile or have unpleasant odors, so you will handle them in a fume hood.
   • Ensure that you have glass and organic waste containers and that each sink has paper towels.
   • Follow the table to designate codes for the carboxylic acids and alcohols used in this lab. The carboxylic acids are coded A through C, and the alcohols are coded D through I. The students will use a 3:1 molar ratio of alcohol to carboxylic acid in the reaction.

     Code	Compound	MW (g/mol)	Density at RT (g/cm3)	Moles per vial	Grams per vial	cm3 per vial	Number of vials
     A	Acetic acid	60.05	1.049	0.07	4.2035	4.0	3
     B	Butyric acid	88.11	0.953	0.07	6.1677	6.5	3
     C	Anthranilic acid	137.14	–	0.07	9.5998	–	1
     D	1-Propanol	60.10	0.803	0.21	12.6210	15.7	1
     E	Isoamyl alcohol	88.15	0.810	0.21	18.512	22.8	1
     F	1-Butanol	74.12	0.810	0.21	15.565	19.2	1
     G	Ethanol	46.07	0.789	0.21	9.6747	12.3	1
     H	Methanol	32.04	0.791	0.21	6.7284	8.5	2
     I	1-Octanol	130.23	0.830	0.21	27.348	32.9	1

   • Prepare the three carboxylic acids: acetic acid, butyric acid, and anthranilic acid. Each group will need 0.07 moles of their assigned carboxylic acid in a vial.
   • Tare a 10-mL glass vial on an analytical balance in a fume hood. Use a Pasteur pipette to measure 4.2035 g of acetic acid, which will be about 4 mL. Cap the vial and label it ‘A’. Prepare two more labeled vials of acetic acid in the same way.
   • Weigh 6.1677 g of butyric acid, which will be about 6.5 mL, in a tared 10-mL vial. Cap the vial and label it ‘B’. Prepare two more vials of butyric acid in the same way.
   • Use a small spatula to weigh 9.5998 g of solid anthranilic acid in a tared 10-mL vial. Cap the vial and label it ‘C’. You should now have a total of seven vials of carboxylic acid.
   • Prepare the 7 alcohols. Each group will need 0.21 moles of their assigned alcohol in a vial. Use the table as a guide to prepare and label one vial of each alcohol. Prepare and label two vials of methanol.
   • You should now have a total of seven vials of alcohol. Keep the reagent vials in the instructor's hood for now and put away the stock bottles of the carboxylic acids and alcohols.
   • Assign each student group one of these seven combinations of reagents.

     Ester code	Carboxylic acid	Alcohol	Ester product	Scent
     AD	Acetic acid	1-Propanol	Propyl acetate	Pear
     AE	Acetic acid	Isoamyl alcohol	Isoamyl acetate	Banana
     AI	Acetic acid	1-Octanol	Octyl acetate	Orange
     BF	Butyric acid	1-Butanol	Butyl butyrate	Pineapple
     BG	Butyric acid	Ethanol	Ethyl butyrate	Strawberry
     BH	Butyric acid	Methanol	Methyl butyrate	Apple
     CH	Anthranilic acid	Methanol	Methyl anthranilate	Grape

   • Prepare or obtain seven vials of the fruit scents and label them with the fruit names as references.
   • Set out the following glassware and equipment at each student lab station (we suggest that students work in pairs):
   • Put bottles of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 3 M sulfuric acid in a dedicated fume hood, along with a roll of plastic paraffin film and scissors.
   • Set out filter paper and Pasteur pipettes in a central area so that every student group can easily access them.

     1    Lab stand

     2    3-prong clamps

     1    Stir plate

     1    Lab jack

     1    Heating mantle

     1    Temperature controller

     2    Pieces of tubing (for condenser)

     1    Joint clip

     1    Tube of vacuum grease

     1    Box of laboratory wipes

     1    10-mL graduated cylinder

     1    600-mL beaker

     1    50-mL round-bottom flask and flask stand

     1    Standard condenser

     1    Small stir bar

     1    Glass rod

     1    Package of pH paper

     2    Pasteur pipette bulbs

   • Just before the lab, fill a large insulated cooler with crushed ice. Place the cooler and an ice scoop in a central area in the lab.
   • When the students arrive, show them how to safely waft vapors before giving them their assigned reagents.