I'm doing a pretty typical O-chem lab right now, trying to synthesize, isolate, and purify Methyl Benzoate. It's created via Fischer Esterification of methanol and benzoic acid. My set up has a round-bottom flask in a self-regulated hot water bath, with a liebig condenser above it. From what I gather, the product is supposed to be a fruity, slightly floral aromatic with a light yellow tinge.
My product, however, smells like the fake spearmint used in those sweetheart candies that say "I wuv you" and such, or like the flavoring used in spearmint lifesavers. It also has shades varying from faint blue to perfectly clear to yellow. The unexpected scent and the unexpected coloring are concerning. I verified that the alcohol I'm using is methanol. Its boiling point is about 64 degrees, as expected. The benzoic acid, though, looks like it could be old. I'm confident that it is benzoic acid, despite its age.
I guess if you haven't figured this out already, the question is "Why doesn't my product have a fruity/floral scent, and why does it smell like a life saver and have an off color?"
Thanks for reading (and hopefully responding)