Aim: To determine the equilibrium constant for esterification from ethanoic acid and propan-1-ol.
Aim:
To determine the equilibrium constant for esterification from ethanoic acid and propan-1-ol.
Procedure:
- 0.25 mole (equals to 14.3 cm3) of glacial ethanoic acid (density = 1.05 g cm-3) and 0.25 mole (equals to 18.8 cm3) of propan-1-ol (density = 0.8 g cm-3) was put into a clean, dry pear-shaped flask. It was mixed thoroughly.
- 1.0 cm3 of the mixture was transferred by pipette to a 250 cm3 conical flask containing about 25cm3 deionized water and 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator. It was titrated to end point with 0.50 M sodium hydroxide solution. The titre (V1 cm3)was recorded.
- 8 drops of concentrated sulphuric(VI) acid was added to the remainder of the acid-alcohol solutions while continuously swirling the flask. Another 1.0 cm3 sample was titrated immediately. The titre (V2 cm3)was recorded. The difference between V1 and V2 Represents the volume to be subtracted from subsequent titration to correct for the amount of sulphuric (VI) acid present.
- A few anti-bumping granules were added to the flask, and it was attached to a water-cooled reflux condenser. It was refluxed for 1 hour. The flask and its contents in an ice bath was cooled. 1.0 cm3 sample was removed from the flask for titration with the 0.50 M sodium hydroxide solution as before. The titre needed was recorded (V3)and was corrected for the sulphuric(VI) acid.
- Refluxing was continued for an additional half hour, and was then cooled and was titrated another 1.0 cm3 sample. The two titres should agreed to within 0.2 cm3. Otherwise, this step was repeated.