Draw the carboxylic acid produced from the acid hydrolysis of butyl acetate (but

Question

Draw the carboxylic acid produced from the acid hydrolysis of butyl acetate (butyl ethanoate).
Esters may undergo a process called hydrolysis in which an ester is split by water. Hydrolysis of esters can occur in the presence of strong acids or strong bases.

When heated in the presence of a strong acid such as H2SO4, water splits an ester into a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. This process is called acid hydrolysis.

In the presence of a strong base such as NaOH, water splits an ester into a carboxylic acid salt and an alcohol. This process is called base hydrolysis or saponification.

Explanation / Answer

Ester can undergo acidic and basic hydrolysis. When hydrolysis is done in presence of acid( which act as catalyst), it is called acid hydrolysis. Product formed are carboxylic acid and alcohol.

H+

CH3COOCH2CH2CH2CH3 + H2O --------> CH3COOH + CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

Butyl acetate Acetic acid Butanol

When the hydrolysis is done in the presence of base(NaOH), product formed is sodium salt of carboxylic acid(soap) and alcohol. This process is known as saponification.

CH3COOCH2CH2CH2CH3 + NaOH ------>  CH3COONa +  CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

Butyl acetate Sodium aetate Butanol

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