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of n-Butyl Acetate.
Name : Wei Sean Loy Date : 2011-04-
20
Aim:
To prepare n-Butyl Acetate (Ester) by using the Fishcher-Speir
etherification method and also to test the presence of the Ester by
chemical test, smell test and infer-red test.
Method:
As per lab manual (green, 2001)
Reaction undertaken:
Reaction between Acetic Acid and Alcohol take place during the Fisher-
Spier etherification process. This reaction is a reversible equation. The
chemical reaction of Acetic Acid and n-Butanol will form n-Butyl Acetate
(Ester) and water.
Observation:
1. The round bottom flask which contains Acetic Acid, n-Butanol,
Dowex ion exchange resin and molecular sieves is heated and a
clear liquid is formed at the end of the process. A sweet smell of
banana is detected from the liquid which is positive that it is the
presence of n-Butyl Acetate.
Discussion:
It is conform that Ester is formed. The clear liquid which we obtained from
the round bottom flask has a pleasant smell of banana. The addition of
Ferric Nitrate solution into the sample shows a dark reddish brown colour
also confirmed the presence of Ester.
The slightly difference in shape of graph of the pure n-Butyl Acetate and
the sample we have might be caused by a few factors, such as the
overheating during the process. The longer time of heating would affect
the absorbance of alcohol by the Acetic Acid. And also some human errors
of inaccurate measuring may affect the mass of reactants causing some
incomplete reacting between each substance. The addition of HCl may
also affect the results. The acidity of HCl would interfere the pH value of
the sample. To compensate the acidity of HCl, Sodium Hydroxide is added
into the sample to alter the pH of the sample.
Conclusion:
The entire conformation test conducted shows affirmation to the presence
of the Ester functional group. We can smell pleasant banana smell from
the sample, and also obtained a reddish brown solution when Ferric
Nitrate solution is added. We obtained a highly similar results of graph
from our sample comparing with the pure n-Butyl Acetate. As a
conclusion, n-Butyl Acetate is successfully formed.
Reference:
Green. A, 2011. CHM 1011 Laboratory lab manual, pp 35-39