Question

How can the product of ester synthesis, isoamyl acetate, be encouraged?

a) By using excess alcohol
b) By reducing temperature
c) By increasing catalyst concentration
d) By removing the catalyst

Answer 1

To encourage the production of the ester isoamyl acetate in an esterification reaction, using excess alcohol is effective because it shifts the equilibrium toward the formation of more ester product.

Step-by-step explanation:

The product of ester synthesis, such as isoamyl acetate, can be encouraged through a reaction known as esterification, where a carboxylic acid and an alcohol are heated in the presence of an acid catalyst. To shift the equilibrium in favor of ester formation, one can use excess alcohol, which drives the reaction forward according to Le Chatelier's Principle. This is because esterification is a reversible reaction, and increasing the concentration of one of the reactants will push the equilibrium towards the products, which in this case is the desired ester.