2007-08-12 01:19:41 · 2 answers · asked by juLy a 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Most flavors and fragrances are esters, which are formed from the reaction of carboxylic acids and alcohols with heating in the presence of an acid catalyst. Sulfuric acid is used because amongst the strong acids, its counterion (sulfate) is the most "innocent" when it comes to potential side reactions.
2007-08-12 01:23:21 · answer #1 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since plants make flavours and fragrances without sulphuric acid or a heat bath the two items are clearly not necessary and the question doesn't make sense.
However when people are making synthetic perfumes they might use sulphuric acid and a heat bath.Sulphuric acid is a strong acid that will catalyse many reactions. The heat bath can be used for a number of things. First most reactions happen faster when they are heated. Secondly it's usual to get a mixture of products from a reaction. One way of separating them is by distillation. That requires heating. It's also notable that sulphuric acid isn't very volatile so distilling the product is likely to remove any traces of left over sulphuric acid. That wouldn't be the case with, for example, hydrochloric acid.
2007-08-12 09:27:45 · answer #2 · answered by boredchemist2003 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋