# A student wants to produce ethyl ethanoate, an ester, starting from ethanol and ethanoic acid. Describe how the student would carry out this reaction in the laboratory, and explain how the ester could be separated from the reaction mixture.

> WJEC A-Level Chemistry (Wales) — 4.8 Organic synthesis and analysis · Describe · 5 marks

> Esters can be made by reacting a carboxylic acid with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction is reversible and the yield of ester is relatively low.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Concentrated sulfuric acid is used as the acid catalyst
2. The mixture is heated (gently / under reflux / in a water bath)
3. Sodium carbonate (solution) is added to the mixture to neutralise / remove the acid catalyst and unreacted ethanoic acid
4. The ester separates as a distinct layer (because it is immiscible with / insoluble in water)
5. The ester layer is separated using a separating funnel

## Key terms

- [ester](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/ester)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC A-Level Chemistry (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-wants-to-produce-ethyl-71e222af) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.