How is Ethyl Acetate made? | Properties | Uses
Preparation of Ethyl Acetate
Laboratory Method
In the laboratory, ethyl acetate is made by the action of ethyl alcohol and acetic acid.
CH3COOH + C2H5OH → CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
This reaction is reversible. To prevent the reverse reaction, it is necessary to use a dehydration. Hence this reaction is carried out in the presence of concentrated H2SO4. Concentrated H2SO4 acts as both anhydrous and catalytic.
Method of Use
In a 250 ml round bottom flask, take about 50 ml acetic acid, 50 ml ethanol and 15 ml concentrated H2SO4. Put a direct water condenser in the flask and heat the mixture kept in the flask for about 15 minutes.
After this, the mixture placed in the flask is poured into a distillation flask. Distillation flasks are connected to thermometer, condenser, and receiver. The distillates heat the flask and collect the distilled fluid in the receiver.
The fluid obtained up to 80°C is mainly ethyl acetate. It contains acetic acid, ethyl alcohol, sulfuric acid, water and small amounts of diethyl ether impurities.
Purification
Shaking the impure ester in a separating funnel with a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate. Soluble salts are formed by the reaction of sodium carbonate with acetic acid and sulphurous acid.
These salts fall into the lower aqueous layer in the separating funnel. Open the spout of the funnel and separate the aqueous layer.
Calcium chloride is added to the remaining esters. It absorbs ethanol and water and gets deposited in the ester layer.
Filter it or open the funnel and separate it. Distillation of the remaining esters achieves pure ethyl acetate at 77–79°C.
