Headings Esters Search Questions 
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Carboxylic Acids - Reaction with Alcohols - Esters.
When a carboxylic acid reacts with
an alcohol in the presence of
concentrated sulfuric
acid, an ester is
formed.
Concentrated sulfuric acid is a catalyst for this reaction.
Below are links to the
reactions of carboxylic acids and alcohols.
Click on the name of the ester to see the reaction.
If you want to react ethanol with
ethanoic acid click on ethyl ethanoate.
| Methanoic Acid | Ethanoic Acid | Propanoic Acid | Butanoic Acid | |
| Methanol | methyl methanoate | methyl ethanoate | methyl propanoate | methyl butanoate |
| Ethanol | ethyl methanoate | ethyl ethanoate | ethyl propanoate | ethyl butanoate |
| Propanol | propyl methanoate | propyl ethanoate | propyl propanoate | propyl butanoate |
| Butanol | butyl methanoate | butyl ethanoate | butyl propanoate | butyl butanoate |
An ester is a sweet
smelling substance.
Some esters are used as food flavourings (for example in pear drop sweets).
Other esters are used as fragrances or perfumes.
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