a. Can acetic acid and ethyl alcohol form an ester?
b. Can they form a polyester? Why? or why not?
2007-04-16 10:25:59 · 2 answers · asked by Vienna 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
a. They can form an ester, ethyl acetate, CH3COOCH3.
b. They cannot form a polyester, because to do that, one would have to have a diacid, such as terephthalic acid, HOOC-C6H4-COOH, and a dialcohol like ethylene glycol, HO-CH2CH2-OH. That polyester would be:
-(-O-CH2CH2-OOC-C6H4-CO*-)-
Polyethelene terephthalate could be used to make women's blouses and soda pop bottles.
2007-04-16 10:36:33 · answer #1 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a condensation reaction and requires a proton donor, usually concentrated sulphuric acid to move the reaction along. Sadly this ester will not form a polymer due to the weak polarisation of the active linkages, and the fact that it was formed via the reaction of a mono acid with a mono alcohol.
Which numpty gave this answer a downer?
I am not here to give absolute answers to homework, just to gently prod in the right direction; as a graduate chemist I KNOW I am CORRECT.
2007-04-16 10:31:03 · answer #2 · answered by Modern Major General 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋