Answer to Question #243470 in General Chemistry for deevika

Question

Ethanoic acid and ethanol react reversibly to form ethyl ethanoate and    water. In a closed system, a dynamic equilibrium is set up.

         Ethanoic acid + ethanol   ⇌   ethyl ethanoate

(i)This reaction is fairly slow, and is usually done in the presence of a small amount of concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst to speed it up. What effect would that have on the percentage of ethanoic acid converted into ethyl ethanoate? Explain your answer.

(ii)  If a lot of ethyl ethanoate was needed, why would it be a bad idea to use dilute sulphuric acid as the catalyst?

Answer 1

I) Assertion is incorrect, but Reason is correct

ii) According to Le Chatelier's Principle, when you add ethanol, the equilibrium will shift in a way to compensate the change in the system. ... Thus, addition of dilute sulfuric acid as a catalyst will shift the equilibrium to the left and will favor the formation of ethanoic acid and ethanol.