13th January 2025
Chemistry Society – microscale esterification
Our ChemSoc recently carried out the esterification of benzoic acid and ethanol to synthesise the ester ethyl benzoate. This has links to carbonyl derivatives from the A2 course and functional groups from the A1 course. A good mix of A1 and A2 chemists plus some of our specially trained ESOL students turned up.
The skeletal formula for ethyl benzoate is below. The equation shows the process which is catalysed by concentrated sulfuric acid, H2SO4.
A video explaining the chemistry of this reaction and its various links to key A level concepts is here
ESOL student Mohamed prepares the benzoic acid by weighing out the required quantity.
A1 students Justin and Hastie heat the mixture in the pre-prepared pipette using a water bath. Hastie is taking care to position the plastic pipette so it doesn’t melt from the convection currents coming off the Bunsen flame.