Question

Show how each of the following esters could be prepared using a carboxylic acid as one of the starting materials octyl acetate (odor of oranges)

Answer 1

Octyl acetate is synthesized through esterification of acetic acid with octanol, using an acid catalyst such as sulfuric acid, resulting in the ester with a pleasant orange scent.

Step-by-step explanation:

To synthesize octyl acetate, which provides the odor of oranges, one would start with a carboxylic acid and an alcohol and perform esterification. In this case, the carboxylic acid is acetic acid (ethanoic acid), which contains two carbon atoms and the alcohol is octanol, which contains eight carbon atoms in its structure. The process involves heating acetic acid with octanol, in the presence of an acid catalyst such as concentrated sulfuric acid, to facilitate the reaction:

• Acetic Acid (CH₃COOH) + Octanol (CH₃(CH₂)7OH) → Octyl Acetate (CH₃COO(CH₂)7CH₃) + Water (H₂O)

This reaction produces the pleasant orange scent by forming the ester octyl acetate, while also giving off water as a byproduct.