Draw the structure of the product formed by the reaction between methyl alcohol and formic acid and give the molecular formula? I did not understand the answer that you gave me it did not make sense to me and I couldn't find it to respond back im sorry. If you wouldnt mind can you explain it to me.
Thanks
Alcohols add to acids to form esters.
Alcohols are R-OH
Acids are R'COOH. (I use R'[R prime] just to show that this particular R group may be different from the R of the ROH.)
R'COOH + HOR ==> R'COOR + HOH
The OH from the acid and the H from the alcohol eliminate HOH and the two hook up there.
So HCOOH is formic acid.
CH3OH is methyl alcohol.
HCOOH + HOCH3 ==> HCOOCH3 + HOH.
so would the molecular formula be C2H6?
No, it isn't C2H6. Look at HCOOCH3 and count them up.
C?H?O?
C2H4O2
yes but that isn't the structural formula. That is the molecular formula.
Is the structural formula HC00CH3?