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Topic: Esterification: preparing n-amyl acetate. Why is K2CO3 added?  (Read 1435 times)

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Offline PterodactylTrex

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Esterification: preparing n-amyl acetate. Why is K2CO3 added?
« on: February 18, 2019, 03:20:28 PM »
Hello. This is probably a stupid question but I just can't see it.

Reagents: Pentanol & CH3COOH
Destillation products: H20, pentanol and amyl acetate.

They ask me why it's needed to add water free K2CO3 to the products.

I think that it reacts with the pentanol to make CH3COO- K+ but I don't see why.

Any help greatly appreciated.


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Offline AWK

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Re: Esterification: preparing n-amyl acetate. Why is K2CO3 added?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2019, 05:01:46 PM »
Esterification is an equilibrium reaction. Even with the excess of alcohol, your reaction product will contain acid.
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