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Chemistry and Chemists № 1 2026 Journal of Chemists-Enthusiasts |
Hydrolysis of Methyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, and Butyl Acetate - pt.5, 6 Chemist |
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I dissolved 1.2 g of sodium hydroxide in 100 ml of distilled water and added phenolphthalein until the mixture turned a deep crimson color. Then I added 20 ml of chemically pure ethyl acetate. Two liquid layers formed: colorless ethyl acetate on top and a crimson aqueous solution below.
I turned on the magnetic stirrer, and an emulsion formed. The color of the phenolphthalein slowly faded, and after a few minutes, the reaction mixture became colorless. I stopped stirring. The emulsion separated into two colorless layers: the aqueous solution settled at the bottom, while unreacted ethyl acetate collected on top. I added a few granules of sodium hydroxide and resumed stirring. The colorless mixture turned pink and then crimson as the alkali gradually dissolved. The color of the phenolphthalein then began to fade as the hydrolysis of ethyl acetate proceeded. Eventually, the emulsion became colorless again. I stopped stirring, and two colorless liquid layers gradually formed: an aqueous solution below and ethyl acetate above. The ester layer was much thinner than it had been initially. The experiment produced results similar to those of the previous one, with one notable difference: the ester contained no colored impurities, and therefore the observations of the hydrolysis were not obscured by them. |
Hydrolysis of Ethyl Acetate |
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