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Ester Preparation and Purification by Distillation


            In an attempt to show a degree of understanding of this reaction, the above diagram has been constructed and split into four steps to illustrate how butan-1-ol' functional group reacted with acetic anhydride to produce butyl acetate. This has been described in three stages however this reaction happens constantly in order to modify the structure of the ester. This is also known as a substitution reaction.
             The reaction involves the two reagents, the first being Butanol which consists of a functional group O-H which is prone to change in order to form a product with more stable chemical properties. The oxygen in this functional group is electronegative dense, meaning when reacting with anhydride which is the second reagent it can harvest more electrons. The weaker bond in the anhydride which is C-O is broken the carbon reforms its 4 carbon bond structure with oxygen leaving the hydrogen to attach to the (CH3COO "H") the oxygen has formed a 2 bond structure and the hydrogen has restored it single bond. The whole reaction is known as an electrophilic substitution reaction where by an ester id formed from the reaction between an acid and alcohol therefore producing it's by product. (Acetic acid). .
             It is important to highlight the fact that Butan-1-ol which would normally be classified as the "R" was not involved in the reaction but got carried along as a "passenger".
             The aim of the experiment was to calculate the theoretical yield from start to finish. .
             Method.
             A method and guided procedure was provided in the Chemistry Practical Programme booklet. Pages 21-23: "The preparation of an organic liquid/ester" & "Further purification".
             Whilst preceding with the method a catastrophic error occurred during the "washing steps" the pressure created inside the reaction vessel proved to be quite strong resulting in the failure to carry on with the rest of the method.


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