A student prepared the compound methyl propanoate in a school laboratory. (a) Give a common use for the class of compounds to which methyl propanoate belongs. (b) In the preparation of this compound a few drops of concentrated sulfuric acid were added to the starting materials. The mixture was then refluxed for a period of time. Why was it necessary to reflux the mixture? (c) Name the TWO reactants used in preparing the methyl propanoate and draw their structural formulae.

SSCE HSC Chemistry Functional Group Compounds: A student prepared the compound

A student prepared the compound methyl propanoate in a school laboratory - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 22 - 2010 - Paper 1

Question 22

A student prepared the compound methyl propanoate in a school laboratory. (a) Give a common use for the class of compounds to which methyl propanoate belongs. (b) ... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student prepared the compound methyl propanoate in a school laboratory - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 22 - 2010 - Paper 1

Step 1

Give a common use for the class of compounds to which methyl propanoate belongs.

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Answer

Methyl propanoate belongs to the class of compounds known as esters. A common use for esters is in the production of artificial flavors and fragrances. They are widely utilized in the food industry to impart fruity flavors and are also common in perfumes.

Step 2

Why was it necessary to reflux the mixture?

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Answer

Refluxing the mixture is necessary to maintain a consistent temperature for the reaction. This process allows the solution to boil and the vapors to condense back into the mixture, ensuring that the reactants remain in contact for a sufficient period, thus facilitating the esterification process and improving the yield of the product.

Step 3

Name the TWO reactants used in preparing the methyl propanoate and draw their structural formulae.

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Answer

The two reactants used to prepare methyl propanoate are methanol and propanoic acid.

Structural Formulae:

Methanol:
```
H   H
|   |
H - C - O - H
|   
H  
```

Propanoic Acid:

H   O
|   ||
H - C - C - O - H
|       |
H       H

A student prepared the compound methyl propanoate in a school laboratory - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 22 - 2010 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student prepared the compound methyl propanoate in a school laboratory - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 22 - 2010 - Paper 1

Give a common use for the class of compounds to which methyl propanoate belongs.

Why was it necessary to reflux the mixture?

Name the TWO reactants used in preparing the methyl propanoate and draw their structural formulae.

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