Anyone good with organic chem reactions? I find this one really interesting

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the esterification reaction involving isopropanol and acetic acid, highlighting the importance of sulfuric acid as a catalyst. It emphasizes that esterification is an equilibrium reaction, which can be influenced by Le Chatelier's principle to favor product formation. Key points include the boiling point of isopropanol at approximately 80°C and the potential formation of an azeotrope when heating the mixture to 100°C. The molecular weights and densities of the compounds involved are also specified, with isopropanol acetate corrected to 102 g/mol and a density of 0.87 g/ml.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of esterification reactions in organic chemistry
  • Knowledge of Le Chatelier's principle
  • Familiarity with azeotropes and boiling point concepts
  • Basic skills in laboratory techniques involving catalysts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanism of esterification reactions
  • Study Le Chatelier's principle in detail
  • Investigate the properties and behavior of azeotropes
  • Learn about the use of sulfuric acid as a catalyst in organic reactions
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Chemistry students, organic chemists, and laboratory technicians interested in reaction mechanisms and optimizing esterification processes.

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TL;DR
If 100ml of heated acetic acid was mixed with 1L of heated 2-propanol, let’s say 75-100C. Will 2-propanol acetate form? If so, how much? And with no addition of a strong acid like sulfuric acid or the high temperature, variables typically applied during esterification reactions. Answers don’t have to be exact. Interesting to see why ppl seem to get quite dissimilar answers though.
132g/ml
870g/mol
2-propanol acetate
 
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Correction:
102g/mol
Density .87g/ml
 
As a first guess, maybe an ester, like you did,
but if you want an expert, then someone else should also respond.
 
Formation of the ester will be very slow without a catalyst (which is what sulfuric acid is). Also, esterification is in equilibrium with the reverse reaction (ester hydrolysis to alcohol/carboxylic acid), and I don't know off the top of my head where that equilibrium sits for isopropanol and acetic acid. Typically when you do an esterification in the lab, you use Le Chatelier's principle to push the equilibrium toward products (either by adding one reagent in excess or by removing the water generated by the condensation reaction).
 
Also, isopropanol boils at around 80 C. I don't know whether the mixture of isopropyl and acetic acid forms an azeotrope. This will be an issue if you're heating the system up to 100 C.
 

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