Question #8abf0

1 Answer
MeneerNask
Nov 12, 2017

No, you can't.

Explanation:

Concentrated sulfuric acid #H_2SO_4# is extremely hygroscopic. It even takes water out of compounds that contain hydrogen and oxygen (in the rate of 2:1). That's why e.g. sugar (or any other carbohydrate) turns into carbon when in contact with this acid.

For esters to form (an equilibrium reaction), the water formed has to be taken away in order to shift the equilibrium to the right:

#R_1-COOH + HO-R_2rightleftharpoons R_1-COO-R_2+H_2O#
(organic acid + alcohol <--> ester + water)

Hydrochloric acid #HCl# does not have this property.

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