thanks guys for your opinion...i appreciate it...here is the prodecure of the experiment:
To a 50mL round bottom flak containing 3-5 boiling chips, add 6.0 g of actetic acid and 6.0 g of an unknown alcohol and be sure to record your choice. To this solution, add 0.5 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid. After addtion of reagents is complete, attach a reflux condenser to the round bottom flask and gently reflux the mixture for 60 mins. then allow the mixture to cool and transfer the liquid to a separatory funnel and wash it with 2X 20 mL of water followed by a washing with 1X 20mL of a saturated NaHCO3 solution. Dry the organic layer over anhydrous Na2SO4. Decant the mixture into a 25mL round bottom flask and purify the product by distillation. obtain a mass of the final oil recovered after distillation.record odor of oil.
by the way, also, based on the starting amounts of carboxylic acid and alcohol given, is the carboxylic acid the limiting reagent? i was thinking it is but again not sure. are they equal amount in all cases? Thanks alot guys