What ester is formed when ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid?

What ester is formed when ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid?

• A. Ethyl formate
• B. Methyl ethanoate
• C. Ethyl ethanoate
• D. Propyl ethanoate

Answer: (C)

Esterification between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol forms an ester and water, with the alcohol’s alkyl group becoming the 'R' part of the ester and the acid’s acyl group forming the rest. When ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid, the product is ethyl ethanoate (ethyl acetate), written as CH3COOCH2CH3, plus water. The name shows the ethyl group from the alcohol and the ethanoate (acetate) part from the acid. This reaction typically needs an acid catalyst and can be driven by removing water or using excess alcohol. Other possibilities would involve different alcohols or acids (for example, formic acid would give ethyl formate, methanol would give methyl ethanoate, and propanol would give propyl ethanoate), which is why the chosen product is the correct one here.

Esterification between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol forms an ester and water, with the alcohol’s alkyl group becoming the 'R' part of the ester and the acid’s acyl group forming the rest. When ethanol reacts with ethanoic acid, the product is ethyl ethanoate (ethyl acetate), written as CH3COOCH2CH3, plus water. The name shows the ethyl group from the alcohol and the ethanoate (acetate) part from the acid. This reaction typically needs an acid catalyst and can be driven by removing water or using excess alcohol. Other possibilities would involve different alcohols or acids (for example, formic acid would give ethyl formate, methanol would give methyl ethanoate, and propanol would give propyl ethanoate), which is why the chosen product is the correct one here.