Lab 14: Ester Synthesis Lab

Lab 14

Ester Synthesis Lab

Shiva Senthil

7/27/17

Introduction

The purpose of this lab was to observe how molecules change during chemical reactions. The lab consisted of synthesizing ester from different acids and alcohols and adding heat. The mixtures were smelled before and after heating and were compared.

Data

The smells created in the lab

Questions

1. Compare the odors of the three mixtures before and after heating.

The mixtures all smell foul before heating, but they smell sweet after heating.

2. Based on the smell of the mixtures after heating, what functional group must be present in the final molecules that were produced? Draw it.

The functional group is ester as the smells were sweet.

3. Were the new compounds easily identified as a specific fragrance like apple or banana? In the case where a specific fragrance was detected, how does the odor compare to the natural fragrance?

All three scents were hard to identify, but the easiest test tube to identify was test tube M, which was identified as mint. Compared to their natural fragrances, these synthetic compounds smelled much more artificial, as you would see in an artificially flavored candy.

Challenge. Draw the structural formula of water and isopentyl acetate.

The structural formula of water and isopentyl acetate. The ester group is seen in the middle.