Where does the water come from when methyl propanoate forms? What is the formula of the ester?

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Jul 25, 2014

The water comes from the OH of the acid and the H of the alcohol. The formula of the ester is CH₃CH₂C(=O)-OCH₃.

Explanation:

Propanoic acid reacts with methanol in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid to form methyl propanoate. Concentrated sulfuric acid catalyzes the reaction.

#underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"C(=O)-"color(red)("OH"))_color(red)("propanoic acid") + underbrace(color(red)("H")"-OCH"_3)_color(red)("methanol") stackrelcolor(blue)("conc. H"_2"SO"_4)(→) underbrace("CH"_3"CH"_2"C(=O)-OCH"_3)_color(red)("methyl propanoate") + underbrace(color(red)("H"_2"O"))_color(red)("water")#

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