What is the major product formed when C2H5OH reacts with CH3COOH?
Answer Details
The major product formed when C2H5OH reacts with CH3COOH is CH3COOC2H5. This reaction is a type of esterification, where an alcohol and a carboxylic acid react to form an ester and water. In this case, the ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) reacts with acetic acid (CH3COOH) to form ethyl acetate (CH3COOC2H5) and water (H2O) as a byproduct. The reaction takes place due to the acidic nature of the carboxylic acid, which donates a proton (H+) to the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the alcohol, forming water and a carboxylate ion. The carboxylate ion then reacts with the electrophilic carbon atom of the carboxylic acid, leading to the formation of the ester. To summarize, the reaction between C2H5OH and CH3COOH leads to the formation of CH3COOC2H5 and H2O as a byproduct, making CH3COOC2H5 the major product of the reaction.