Azeotropes can be used to shift chemical equilibria by removing products. Treatm

Question

Azeotropes can be used to shift chemical equilibria by removing products. Treatment of 1-butanol with acetic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid as a catalyst results in formation of butyl acetate and water. The mixture of 1-butanol/butyl acetate/ water forms a ternary azeotrope that boils at 90.7 degree C. This azeotrope separates into two layers; the upper layer is largely butyl acetate, along with 11% 1-butanol, and the lower layer is largely water. Butyl acetate forms by an equilibrium reaction that does not especially favor product formation.

a. Describe an apparatus by which azeotrope formation can be used to drive the equilibrium toward the products, thus maximizing the yield.

Explanation / Answer

The Dean-Stark apparatus can be used to drive the equilibrium toward the products by azeotrope formation.

1)Dean stark apparatus contains a vertical cylinder attached to the top of the vessel, where reaction is going on.

2)The vapour phase of 1-butanol/butyl acetate/ water of azeotrope move through the cylinder to the condensor.

3) The mixture of butyl acetate,1-butanol and water gets condensed and are collected at the trap.

4) At the trap, the immiscible liquids form different layers and butyl acetate can be easily separated.

The Dean stark apparatus removes the products of the reaction and hence by Le chartelier principle drives the reaction in forward direction, thus maximizing the yield.

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