Carbonic Acid Synthesis Lab Report

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Pages: 3

1) Esterification is reflected by the following reaction equilibrium: acetic acid + alcohol ester + water
In accordance with Le Chatelier's principle, if water is removed from the system, it will shift the equilibrium to the right and favor the formation of the ester. The removal of water can be accomplished by adding a compound like silica which can aid in the removal of water.
2) The reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate produces carbonic acid and sodium acetate. Since, both carbonic acid and sodium acetate are soluble in water, the addition of the appropriate quantity of sodium bicarbonate will transfer all of the acetic acid to the aqueous layer. Once the acetic acid is separated from the organic layer, there should be no
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The production of CO2 produces the bubbles.
4) Isoamyl alcohol and glacial acetic acid react with sulfuric acid as a catalyst. The limiting reactant in this reaction is isoamyl alcohol. The reagent used in excess is acetic acid which is two times more than isoamyl alcohol.
5) Acetate ions can be neutralized to form ions. Given that the acetate ions are charged, their solubility in water is much more than in organics. As such, if aqueous sodium bicarbonate is added, the base will deprotonate the acetic acid, forming acetate ions. These acetate ions will move out of the organic phase into the aqueous phase, removing them when the organics are separated from the water.
6) IR spectra of isopentyl acetate contains a strong band at 1742cm-1 due to ester carbonyl group and 1244cm-1due to -C-O-C ether linkage and 1366cm-1 due to-CH(CH3)2 group.
The absorbance bands are distinct for the acetate and acid because of the difference in placement of the C=O bond in the 1700s range. This differentiates the acid from the ester. The ester will be slightly more to the right. The absorption band in alcohol will be missing. Instead it will have the O-H band, which is missing in the other
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b) The pi electrons present in the carbonyl bond migrate to the oxygen atom.
c) This is followed by a nucleophilic attack on carbon which is present in the carbonyl bond. This results in its carrying a positive charge which makes it attracted to the nonbonding electrons on the nucleophile.
d) As the nucleophile, which is usually an alcohol, bonds with the carbon atom, there is a production of a water molecule.
e) This is a classic SN2 reaction