what are the products of the following reaction.
CH3COOH+CH3CH2OH--->
(there is an H+ above the dotted arrow line)
H2O and ethyl acetate.
The given reaction is the esterification reaction between acetic acid (CH3COOH) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH) in the presence of an acid catalyst (H+). This reaction results in the formation of an ester and water.
To determine the products of this reaction, you need to be familiar with the esterification reaction mechanism. In the presence of an acid catalyst, the acidic proton (H+) from the acetic acid is transferred to the hydroxyl group (OH) of the ethanol, forming water (H2O) as a byproduct.
The acetic acid loses its acidic proton and becomes its conjugate base, acetate ion (CH3COO-). The ethanol receives the proton, leading to the formation of an ethyl group (CH3CH2-) referred to as the alkyl part of the ester. The resulting molecule is called ethyl acetate, which is an ester.
Therefore, the products of this reaction are ethyl acetate (CH3COOCH2CH3) and water (H2O).