Topic 6 - Esters (Paper 2)

Question 1

what are esters formed from?

Answer 1

an alcohol and a carboxylic acid

Question 2

what is the word equation for ester formation?

Answer 2

alcohol + carboxylic acid = ester + water

Question 3

how is an esters name formed?

Answer 3

first part: alcohol + yl
second part: carboxylic acid + oate

Question 4

how would you make ethyl ethanoate in a lab?

Answer 4

1. add a few drops of concentrated sulfuric acid to a boiling tube with a pipette
2. add about 10 drops of ethanoic acid
3. add an equal amount of ethanol
4. place the boiling tube in a beaker of water on a tripod
5. heat using a bunsen until the water starts to boil, then turn off the bunsen
6. after a minute remove the tube
7. once its cool, pour the mixture into a test tube of sodium carbonate solution and mix. a layer of the ester should form on top.

Question 5

what are uses of esters?

Answer 5

• perfumes as they are nice smelling and volatile (turn into gases quickly)
• food flavourings as they smell good