In an experiment of hydrolysis of methyl benzoate, why acidification is done and not neutralization using hydrochloric acid to the reaction mixture obtained by refluxing
Acidification is done in the hydrolysis of methyl benzoate because acidic conditions are necessary for the hydrolysis reaction to occur efficiently. Neutralization using hydrochloric acid would counteract the acidic conditions required for the hydrolysis reaction to proceed.
During the hydrolysis of methyl benzoate, the ester bond is broken by water molecules under acidic conditions to form benzoic acid and methanol. Acidification of the reaction mixture helps in providing the necessary protons for the hydrolysis reaction to take place.
If neutralization with hydrochloric acid is done, it would result in the formation of water and a salt (in this case probably methyl chloride). This would not promote the hydrolysis of the ester bond and would hinder the formation of benzoic acid and methanol.
Therefore, acidification is necessary in the hydrolysis of methyl benzoate to create the acidic conditions required for the reaction to proceed effectively.