Catalysts?????

Question

In test tube A there is ethanoic acid + ethanol -> ethylethanoate but no drops of sulfuric acid. In test tube B - same thing, but with 3 drops of sulfuric acid. Do the smells differ?

Answer 1

Your statement is a little misleading.
In room temperature without driving water away, ethanoic acid and ethanol do NOT react.
Now, adding diluted sulfuric acid would not help either. For ethanoic acid and ethanol to react, water needs to be driven away. Thus ethanoic acid (acetic acid) and ethanol must be anhydrous, and H2SO4 to be concentrated. In this way H2SO4 would strongly absorb water, and cause ethylethanoate be produced. The smell of ethylethanoate would then come out.

Answer 2

esterification...
esters smell nice...