Fischer Esterification
Acetic Acid + Ethanol in the presence of Dowex, a solidcatalyst. 4 samples were placed in 4 tubes, heated in a waterbath.
Test tube 4 was left in the water bath overnight. When testingsample #4 with GC and NMR, one product was expected - the ester,ethyl acetate. However a small portion of acetic acid was present.I understand acetic acid is often used in excess (La Chat) but theethanol was in equal ratio to the acetic acid, so should it nothave appeared as well? I know its an equilibrium, but if one ispresent, wouldn't both acetic acid and ethanol be there if it hadgone in reverse?
