What is the purpose of adding sulfuric acid to an esterification reaction?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question: What is the purpose of adding sulfuric acid to an esterification reaction?

Option a: To neutralise the solution. This is not the primary role in an esterification. Sulfuric acid acts as a catalyst, not a base, so its main function is not neutralisation.

Option b: To dissolve the carboxylic acid in the alcohol. While acids can protonate species, the acid's main function here is not merely to dissolve reactants. The solvent properties are not the key role; the reaction mechanism relies on acid catalysis.

Option c: To catalyse the reaction. This is the core purpose: sulfuric acid provides a strong acidic environment that protonates the carbonyl oxygen of the carboxylic acid, increasing electrophilicity and facilitating the nucleophilic attack by the alcohol, thus speeding up the esterification equilibrium.

Option d: To dissolve the alcohol in the carboxylic acid. This is inaccurate; the acid is not primarily used to mix or dissolve reactants. The solubility of components is not the mechanism by which the esterification rate is increased.

In summary, the sulfuric acid functions as a catalyst, lowering the activation energy of the esterification process and accelerating the forward reaction by creating a more reactive electrophilic carbonyl center and helping to remove water; the other options describe effects that are not the main catalytic role of the acid in this context.

MCD4400 - T3 - 2025 Prelab Quiz - Esterification - Benzocaine

What is the purpose of adding sulfuric acid to an esterification reaction?

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