# Ethyl ethanoate is an ester that can be produced in a laboratory. Explain how ethyl ethanoate could be made from ethanoic acid, including the conditions needed and how a pure sample could be separated from the reaction mixture.

> WJEC A-Level Chemistry (Wales) — 4.5 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives · Explain · 5 marks

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Ethanoic acid is reacted with ethanol (to form the ester)
2. An acid catalyst is required / concentrated sulfuric acid is used as a catalyst
3. The mixture is heated (to speed up the reaction / increase the yield in a reasonable time)
4. Water is also produced in the reaction (esterification produces water as a by-product)
5. The ester can be separated from the mixture by distillation (as it has a lower boiling point than the other components / it evaporates first)

## 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 "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/ethyl-ethanoate-is-an-ester-that-6cfb4474) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.