How is Ethyl Acetate made? | Properties | Uses

Preparation of Ethyl Acetate

Laboratory Method

In the laboratory, ethyl acetate is made by the action of ethyl alcohol and acetic acid.

CH₃COOH + C₂H₅OH → CH₃COOC₂H₅ + H₂O

This reaction is reversible. To prevent the reverse reaction, it is necessary to use a dehydration. Hence this reaction is carried out in the presence of concentrated H₂SO₄. Concentrated H₂SO₄ acts as both anhydrous and catalytic.

Method of Use

In a 250 ml round bottom flask, take about 50 ml acetic acid, 50 ml ethanol and 15 ml concentrated H₂SO₄. Put a direct water condenser in the flask and heat the mixture kept in the flask for about 15 minutes.

After this, the mixture placed in the flask is poured into a distillation flask. Distillation flasks are connected to thermometer, condenser, and receiver. The distillates heat the flask and collect the distilled fluid in the receiver.

The fluid obtained up to 80°C is mainly ethyl acetate. It contains acetic acid, ethyl alcohol, sulfuric acid, water and small amounts of diethyl ether impurities.

Purification

Shaking the impure ester in a separating funnel with a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate. Soluble salts are formed by the reaction of sodium carbonate with acetic acid and sulphurous acid.

These salts fall into the lower aqueous layer in the separating funnel. Open the spout of the funnel and separate the aqueous layer.

• 
  Importance of Biomolecules in Life || What are the 4 main biomolecules?
  
• 
  Resonance effect or mesomeric effect || What is resonance effect with example?
  
• 
  Valency of Elements || How to Find Valency || What is the Valency of the atom?
  
• 
  Glucose Structure: Physical and chemical properties, Glucose Chemical Reaction
  
• 
  Introduction of Inductive-Effect || How does Inductive Effect Work?
  
• 
  IUPAC Name : How to find the IUPAC name of compounds.
  

Calcium chloride is added to the remaining esters. It absorbs ethanol and water and gets deposited in the ester layer.

Filter it or open the funnel and separate it. Distillation of the remaining esters achieves pure ethyl acetate at 77-79°C.

Other Methods

:- Ethyl acetate is also obtained by the reaction of acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride on ethanol.

(CH₃CO)₂O + C₂H₅OH → CH₃COOC₂H₅ + CH₃COOH

CH₃COCl + C₂H₅OH → CHCOOC₂H₅ + HCl

:- Ethyl acetate is also obtained by heating the alcohol solution of silver acetate with ethyl iodide.

CH₃COOAg + C₂H₅I →CH₃COOC₂H₅ + AgI

Physical Properties of Ethyl Acetate

Ethyl acetate is a colorless and fruity smelling liquid. Its boiling point is 77°C. It is less soluble in water but is completely blendable(mixture) in alcohol and ether. It is lighter than water and its relative density is 0.91.

Chemical Properties of Ethyl Acetate

Water decomposition: Ethyl acetate is decomposed by dilute acids to form acetic acid and ethanol.

CH₃COOC₂H₅ + H₂O → CH₃COOH + C₂H₅OH

Water is decomposed by dilute bases to form acetic acid salts and ethanol.

CH₃COOC₂H₅ + NaOH → CH₃COONa + C₂H₅OH

Oils and fats are esters made with high monocarboxylic acid of glycerol. Their alkaline water decomposition makes soap. Hence the action of water decomposition by the bases of esters is called saponificarion.

Reduction: It is reduced by H₂-Ni, sodium ethanol, LiAlH₄ or NaBH₄ to form ethanol.

CH₃COOC₂H₅ → CH₃CH₂OH + C₂H₅OH

Reaction with ammonia: It reacts with ammonia to produce ecetamide.

CH₃COOC₂H₅ + NH₃ →CH₃CONH₂ + C₂H₅OH

• 
  Coulomb's Law : Electric Field, Potential Difference, Volt
  
• 
  Gauss Law or Gauss Theorem : Solid Angle and Electric Flux
  
• 
  Electrolysis : Definition, Principle and Electrolytic Cell
  
• 
  Adsorption : Adsorption rate, Physisorption and Chemisorption
  
• 
  Electric Cell : E.M.F., Terminal Potential, Internal Resistance
  
• 
  How Transistor Works : PNP and NPN Transistors
  

Reaction with phosphorus pentachloride: It reacts with phosphorus pentachloride to form acetyl chloride and ethyl chloride.

CH₃COOC₂H₅ + PCl₅ →CH₃COCl + C₂H₅Cl + POCl₃

Claisen’s condensation: Two molecules of ethyl acetate condense in the presence of sodium ethoxide to form ethyl acetoacetate, also known as acetoacetic ester. This reaction is called claisen condensation.

CH₃COOC₂H₅ + CH₃COOC₂H₅ →CH₃COCH₂COOC₂H₅ + C₂H₅OH

Ethyl Acetate Uses

• As solvent
• Smelting medicines and food items and making perfumes
• Used in making acetoacetic ester which is used to make many carbnic compounds.