Practicals

• Propan-1-ol (50 cm3) and ethanoic acid (50 cm3) are mixed thoroughly in a 250 cm3 round-bottomed flask. • Concentrated sulfuric acid (10 cm3) is added drop by drop to the mixture, keeping the contents of the flask well-shaken and cooled in an ice-water bath. • When the acid has all been added, a reflux condenser is fitted to the flask and the mixture gently boiled over an electric heating mantle for about 30 minutes.

• The mixture is cooled, and the apparatus rearranged for distillation. The crude ester (about 60 cm3) is distilled off. • The distillate is placed in a separating funnel and shaken with about half its volume of 30% sodium carbonate solution, with the pressure being released at intervals. The lower aqueous layer is then discarded. • The crude ester is shaken in a separating funnel with about half its volume of 50% calcium chloride solution, which removes unreacted alcohol. The lower layer is discarded.