The industrial solvent ethyl acetate is produced by the reaction of acetic acid

Question

The industrial solvent ethyl acetate is produced by the reaction of acetic acid with ethanol:

CH3CO2H(soln) + CH3CH2OH(soln) à

Acetic acid                     Ethanol

CH3CO2CH2CH3(soln) + H2O(soln)

Ethyl acetate

(a) Write the equilibrium constant expression for Kc.

(b) A solution prepared by mixing 1.00 mol of acetic acid and l.00 mol of ethanol contains 0.65 mol of ethyl acetate at equilibrium. Calculate the value of Kc

Explain why you can calculate Kc without knowing the volume of the solution.

Explanation / Answer

a.Kc = [Ethyl acetate][H2O]/([ Acetic acid ][ Ethanol])

b.Observe the stoichiometry of the reaction, at equilibrium the mixture contains:

[Ethyl acetate]= 0.65 mol/V

[H2O]= 0.65 mol/V

[ Acetic acid ]= 0.35 mol/V

[ Ethanol] = 0.35 mol/V

Kc = (0.65/V)x(0.65/V) / [(0.35/V)x(0.35/V)]=

     = 0.65x0.65/(0.35x0.35)= 3.45

The volume V is the same for all compounds. It is simplified during calculation.

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