[Gargamel]

Hello

My book tells me that the reason for using H₂SO₄ as a catalyst in ester reactions is, that it is a good dehydrating agent and therefore improve the output of formed ester. (I understand this, Le Chat...)

My question is can HCl or HNO₃ be used as dehydrating agent as well? And do they also catalyze the esterfication process?

Thanks for reading

[UG]

Strong mineral acids should all work. As long as the carbonyl group oxygen gets protonated...

[Gargamel]

Okay, so this also mean that all mineral acids removes the water formed?

Example of equations is just this?

HCl + H₂O   Cl^- + H₃O⁺
HNO₃ + H₂O   NO₃^- + H₃O⁺
H₂SO₄ + H₂O   HSO₄^- + H₃O⁺

But conc. sulfuric acid works best as a dehydrating agent I suppose, as it is close to 100% pure, while the two others are not.

Thanks again

[UG]

Yes, sulfuric acid has a greater affinity for water, the hydration of sulfuric acid is thermodynamically favorable

[AWK]

Forget about dehydrating potency. Strong acid here acts as catalyst