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[whc235]

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Which of the following reactants are required to produce ethyl benzoate via the acid-catalyzed esterification reaction?
I. Ethanol
II. Benzyl alcohol
III. Ethanoic acid

IV. Benzoic acid



The solution doesn't say much.. thanks!

 

[pbure9]

this is a good question. Key here is to realize what ethyl benzoate is.




Once we establish this, in esterification the carbonyl C=O is the only thing that comes from the original acid, while the -O-C-R comes from the alcohol. In this case we have benzoic acid combining with ethanol to give us ethyl benzoate.

If we had the reverse of the O's, then the alcohol would be on the benzene (benzyl alcohol) and the acid would be acetic acid.

 

[HowAboutDAT]

question about the naming of this compound... i thought if its benzyl, there's a CH2 between the benzene ring and the rest of the compound, while if its phenyl its directly attached to the rest of the compound. If that's the case, why isnt it ethyl phenylate (or something of that sort)?

 

[nicz888]

question about the naming of this compound... i thought if its benzyl, there's a CH2 between the benzene ring and the rest of the compound, while if its phenyl its directly attached to the rest of the compound. If that's the case, why isnt it ethyl phenylate (or something of that sort)?

benzoic acid is

C6H5-COOH

take a H off the end

C6H5-COO

which will be

benzoate and because CH2CH3 replace the H we call it

ethyl benzoate

 

[pbure9]

benzoic acid is

C6H5-COOH

take a H off the end

C6H5-COO

which will be

benzoate and because CH2CH3 replace the H we call it

ethyl benzoate

thats a good way to see the naming, but its important to know I think that its the alcohol O that replaces the -OH of the acid if its ever a question.