SCH 4U

Esters Lab

The reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol produces an ester. In this lab, you will prepare an
ester and observe its properties.

**Safety Note – for this lab you must wear an apron, gloves, and safety goggles at all times

Materials

- Retort stand with clamps - Distilled water

- Thermometer - Alcohol
- Hot plate - Carboxylic acid
- 100 mL beaker
- 2 large beakers (250 mL)
- 4 plastic micropipettes
- 2 graduated cylinders (10 mL)
- Medicine droppers
- Stopper
- Ice chips

Procedure

1. Prepare a hot-water bath: place about 125 mL of tap water in a 250 mL beaker on a hot plate –
you will have to adjust the setting throughout the lab to keep the water temperature .
2. Set up the retort stand beside the hot-water bath. Use one clamp to hold the thermometer in
the hot-water bath. Make sure the thermometer is not touching the walls or the bottom of the
beaker. Use a stopper around the thermometer so that it stays in place inside the clamp.
3. Use a graduated cylinder to measure 1.0 mL of your alcohol
into a 100 mL beaker. Without inhaling the vapour, record
the smell.
4. Use a graduated cylinder to add 1.0 mL of your carboxylic
acid. Without inhaling the acid, record the smell.
5. Ask for assistance adding 4 drops of sulfuric acid to your
alcohol/acid mixture
6. Suction the mixture into a micropipette. Invert the
micropipette and place it, bulb down, in the hot-water bath.
Place a cap over the top of the pipette and use a clamp to
hold the pipette in place.
7. Leave the pipette in the hot water for about 10 minutes.
Use a thermometer to monitor the water temperature; keep it between 50 0C and 60 0C
8. Prepare a cold-water bath: place about 125 mL of water with ice chips in a 250 mL beaker.
9. Now, place the pipette in the cold-water bath (bulb down!) and allow it to cool for about 5
minutes.
10. Carefully squeeze a few drops of the product onto a watch glass. Mix it with a few drops of
distilled water. Waft the odour. Record your observations.
SCH 4U

Prelab

In your lab notebook draw and name the reactants and products of each reaction. Record the expected
odour of each product.

Reaction # Reactants
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
SCH 4U