+ +

After completing this topic you should be able to : State esters are formed by the condensation reaction between an alkanoic acid and an alcohol. State the ester link is formed by the reaction of a hydroxyl group with a carboxyl group. Name an ester given the names of the parent alkanol and alkanoic acid or from shortened and full structural formulae. Can draw shortened and full structural formulae for esters given the names of the parent alkanol and alkanoic acid or the names of esters. Describe an experiment where an ester is produced. Give examples of the uses of esters.

When a C CC CARBOXYLIC (ALKANOIC) ACID molecule reacts with an A AA ALCOHOL (ALKANOL) molecule a molecule called an E EE ESTER forms. The h hh hydroxyl group of the alcohol reacts with the c cc carboxyl group of the acid. hydroxyl group carboxyl group + + During the reaction the H HH H atom of the hydroxyl group and the O OO OH of the carboxyl group break off and join to form a w ww water molecule. ester link (carboxylate group) water molecule molecules join The a aa alcohol and a aa acid molecules join to form an e ee ester link (carboxylate group). A reaction where a molecule of water is eliminated as two molecules join, is called a CONDENSATION REACTION. M aking an ester is a C CC CONDENSATION REACTION.

The name of an ester comes from the a aa alcohol and c cc carboxylic acid from which it is made. The alcohol molecule gives the ester its first name. The alcohol name changes to ALKYL. methanol methyl ethanol ethyl propanol propyl butanol butyl The carboxylic acid molecule gives the ester its second name. The acid name changes to ALKANOATE. methanoic acid methanoate ethanoic acid ethanoate propanoic acid propanoate butanoic acid butanoate propanol ethanoic acid + propyl ethanoate + water

Making an e ee ester is a c cc condensation reaction. The reaction is called E EE ESTERIFICATION as the reaction produces an e ee ester. alcohol carboxylic acid + ester + water propanol ethanoic acid + propyl ethanoate + water + + water molecule eliminated ester link (carboxylate group) + + CH3CH2CH2OH + HOOCCH3 CH3CH2CH2OOCCH3 + H2O

ethanol methanoic acid + ethyl methanoate + water + + CH3CH2OH + HOOCH CH3CH2OOCH + H2O

Esters can be recognised by the two oxygen atoms from the C CC CARBOXYLATE GROUP (COO or O OO OOC) in the middle of the formula. OC H H H C O C H H H C HHC H H C H H OC H H C O C H H C H H H H CHH C H H OR alcohol part acid part 2 carbons 4 carbons butanoate butanoate ethyl ethyl ethyl butanoate The formula / structure of an ester can be written with the alcohol part followed by the acid part or vice-versa.

The following examples shows how to name an ester from its s ss shortened structural formula or m mm molecular formula. CH 3 CH 2 OOCCH 2 CH 2 CH 3 C 2 H 5 OOCC 3 H 7 ethyl ethyl butanoate butanoate OR CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 COOCH 2 CH 3 ethyl butanoate C 3 H 7 COOC 2 H 5 ethyl butanoate SHORTENED STRUCTURAL FORMULA MOLECULAR FORMULA

To prepare an ester an a aa alcohol (ethanol) has to be reacted with a c cc carboxylic acid (propanoic acid). The rate of the reaction is slow at room temperature and the yield of ester is low. The rate of the reaction can be increased by h hh heating the reaction mixture and by using concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst. The presence of the c cc concentrated sulphuric acid increases the yield of ester. paper towel soaked in cold water hot water alcohol (ethanol) and carboxylic acid (propanoic acid) + a few drops of c cc concentrated sulphuric acid The mixture is heated for a short time (10 mins).

After heating pour the contents of the test tube into a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate. This reacts with any unused acid. sodium hydrogencarbonate solution ester floats as an oily layer on top of the solution Esters have a pleasant fruity smell. Esters are found in fragrances giving flowers, fruit, perfumes their characteristic smell. Esters are also used in flavourings. The ester can be carefully smelled.

Many esters have pleasant smells and flavours. They are found in nature in common fruit flavours. They are found in coffee, tea, wine and beer. Ester Parent Alcohol Parent Carboxylic Acid Flavouring / Fragrance propyl pentanoate propan-1-ol pentanoic acidpineapple ethyl butanoate ethanol butanoic acidapple octyl butanoate octan-1-ol ethanoic acidorange pentyl ethanoate pentan-1-ol ethanoic acidbanana Esters are good solvents for varnishes, paints and adhesives. For example, b bb butyl ethanoate and ethyl ethanoate. These esters have a low boiling point and evaporate easily i.e. they are volatile liquids. Esters are found in medicines. They are used in local anaesthetics. For example, benzocaine, c cc cocaine, n nn novocaine. Aspirin, a common pain killer, is the ester called e ee ethyl salicylate.