Question

As discussed in class, the Fischer esterification reactants and products are at equilibrium. How was the equilibrium of the reaction that you performed shifted towards the products

Answer 1

Answer:

See explanation

Explanation:

The particular reactants in the Fischer esterification reaction were not stated.

Generally, a Fischer esterification is a reaction that proceeds as follows;

RCOOH + R'OH ⇄RCOOR' + H2O

This reaction occurs in the presence of an acid catalyst.

We can shift the equilibrium of this reaction towards the products side in two ways;

I) use of a large excess of either of the reactants

ii) removal of one of the products as it is formed.

Any of these methods shifts the equilibrium of the Fischer esterification reaction towards the products side.