Esterification of Fatty Acids (online lab, ochem II) OBJECTIVES: 1. To illustrat

Question

Esterification of Fatty Acids (online lab, ochem II)

OBJECTIVES:
1. To illustrate the process of esterification that takes place in the body between a fatty acid and a molecule of glycerol using smaller organic compounds.
2. To separate the desired product from the reaction mixture using a separatory funnel.
3. To purify an organic liquid using a distillation apparatus.
4. To analyze the product using 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy.

PROCEDURE:
1. Record all information and data collected in your laboratory notebook, which is simply a spiral notebook or a piece of notebook paper. You do not need to use the notebook in the virtual laboratory for observations but you may want to use the virtual lab notebook to save IR and NMR spectra.
2. Enter the stockroom and click on the clipboard. Select the Esterification Reaction.
3. Choose the starting materials: acetic acid, ethanol, and diethyl ether, which is the solvent.
4. Return to the lab and build the experiment apparatus, which includes a heater, condenser, nitrogen gas.
5. Add the reagent, sulfuric acid, H2SO4 to the reaction flask.
6. You will monitor the reaction progress using the pull down TV.
7. Note the time on the laboratory clock and start the reaction by turning on the stir plate.
8. Advance the laboratory clock by ten minute intervals. Keep your eye on the TV monitor and note the time when you first notice the sign of the product.
9. Continue to advance the laboratory clock by ten minute intervals until all the starting material is gone.
10.Note the time when all the starting material has been converted to product.
11.When all the starting material is gone, transfer the reaction mixture to a separatory funnel. To do this, simply double click on the separatory funnel in the drawer.
12.Extract the reaction mixture with water. Notice which layer your product is in by viewing the TV monitor. Failure to save the correct layer will result in you having to repeat the procedure.
13.Separate the layers and discard the layer that does not contain your product in the waste container.
14.Return the round bottom flask to the stir plate.
15.Set-up the distillation apparatus by double clicking on the apparatus. In order to set up the distillation apparatus the round bottom flask containing the product mixture must be on the stir plate.
16.You will need to add N2 gas to your apparatus. Failure to do so will cause your reaction apparatus to explode.
17.Note the temperature on the thermometer before you start the distillation process by moving your mouse over the thermometer. This is the boiling point for your final product.
18.Record this value in your notebook.
19.Start the distillation process by turning on the stir plate.
20.Advance the laboratory by one minute and recheck the temperature of the vapors.
21.Record the time and temperature in your laboratory notebook.
22.Continue to advance the laboratory clock in one minute intervals and record the time and temperature in your laboratory notebook.
23.The boiling point of your product is ~77

Explanation / Answer

Why was the distillation purification step required in this experiment?

ans : A To separate the product from any impurities in the reaction mixture

Why was the reaction mixture extracted with water?

ans To remove any unreacted sulfuric acid.

The single bonded oxygen of the ester, of the product of this reaction, once was the oxygen of the

ans A carbonyl group of acetic acid.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse E
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.