Question

Write the type of reaction.

Ethanol is warmed with ethanoic acid to form ethyl acetate in the presence of concentrated $H_{2}S{O}_4.$

• A. Esterification reaction
• B. Neutralisation reaction
• C. Decomposition reaction
• D. Double displacement reaction

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Reaction of ethanol with warm ethanoic acid to form ethyl acetate(an ester) and water can be written as:
$C_2{H}_{5}OH+C{H}_{3}COOH\stackrel{H^{+}}{\to }C{H}_{3}COO{C}_2{H}_5+H_{2}O$
(ethanol) (ethanoic acid) (ester)
Above reaction is an esterification reaction as an alcohol and an acid are combined to formed an ester.