Difference between revisions of "Fischer esterification"
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Fisher esterification is an organic chemical reaction in which an [[Alcohol]] reacts with a [[Carboxylic acid]] in the presence of a strong acid to create an [[Ester]] and water. This is a coupling reaction. It was first described by the legendary Hermann Emil Fischer and Arthur Speier. This is a dynamic reaction which exists in equilibrium. The chemists object is to manipulate concentration and conditions to drive the reaction towards the desired product. | Fisher esterification is an organic chemical reaction in which an [[Alcohol]] reacts with a [[Carboxylic acid]] in the presence of a strong acid to create an [[Ester]] and water. This is a coupling reaction. It was first described by the legendary Hermann Emil Fischer and Arthur Speier. This is a dynamic reaction which exists in equilibrium. The chemists object is to manipulate concentration and conditions to drive the reaction towards the desired product. | ||
In reverse, water and an ester couple to return the alcohol and the carboxylic acid. Both processes coexist, so the task is not easy. | In reverse, water and an ester couple to return the alcohol and the carboxylic acid. Both processes coexist, so the task is not easy. | ||
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| + | A classic example is to distill glacial [[Acetic acid]], anhydrous [[Ethanol]] with concentrated [[Sulfuric acid]] to give [[Ethyl Acetate]]. The resulting distillate can be then be further purified and re-distilled as described by [[https://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/ethyl.acetate.html Erowid]]. | ||
Revision as of 02:36, 19 February 2016
Fisher esterification is an organic chemical reaction in which an Alcohol reacts with a Carboxylic acid in the presence of a strong acid to create an Ester and water. This is a coupling reaction. It was first described by the legendary Hermann Emil Fischer and Arthur Speier. This is a dynamic reaction which exists in equilibrium. The chemists object is to manipulate concentration and conditions to drive the reaction towards the desired product. In reverse, water and an ester couple to return the alcohol and the carboxylic acid. Both processes coexist, so the task is not easy.
A classic example is to distill glacial Acetic acid, anhydrous Ethanol with concentrated Sulfuric acid to give Ethyl Acetate. The resulting distillate can be then be further purified and re-distilled as described by [Erowid].
