The process in which an organic acid and an alcohol react to form an ester and water is known as esterification. Ethyl butanoate (C3H7COOC2H5) an ester is formed when the alcohol ethanol (C2H5OH) and butanoic acid (C3H7COOH) are heated in the presence of sulfuric acid. C2H5OH (l) + C3H7COOH (l) C3H7COOC2H5 (l) + H2O (l) Determine the mass of ethyl butanoate produced if 6.00 mol of ethanol is used.

697 g

Explanation:

Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and butanoic acid (C₃H₇COOH) react to form ethyl butanoate (C₃H₇COOC₂H₅) and water (H₂O).

C₂H₅OH + C₃H₇COOH → C₃H₇COOC₂H₅ + H₂O

The molar ratio of C₂H₅OH to C₃H₇COOC₂H₅ is 1:1. The moles of C₃H₇COOC₂H₅ produced from 6.00 moles of C₂H₅OH are:

6.00 mol C₂H₅OH * (1 mol C₃H₇COOC₂H₅/1 mol C₂H₅OH) = 6.00 mol C₃H₇COOC₂H₅

The molar mass of C₃H₇COOC₂H₅ is 116.16 g/mol. The mass corresponding to 6.00 mol is:

6.00 mol * (116.16 g/mol) = 697 g