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Esterification test with answers for A Level chemistry (free PDF download)

Quick answer: Carboxylic acids react with alcohols, in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, to form esters and water in a reversible equilibrium. This Chemistry 11-12 test on esterification has 8 questions worth 20 marks, to do in 45 minutes: naming an ester, esterification and alkaline hydrolysis. The mark scheme is on a separate page; free printable PDF.

Esterification test with answers for A Level chemistry (free PDF download)

This 45 minute test is worth 20 points. It covers naming esters, esterification equilibrium, hydrolysis, acyl chlorides and a mechanism. Write balanced equations, use the reversible arrow where it applies and show each step of a calculation.

Level: Chemistry grades 11-12 (A Level · IB · Class 11-12) · Curriculum: A Level 3.3.9

Time: 45 minutes · 8 questions · Total: 20 marks · Calculator allowed

Question 1 Naming an ester (2 marks)

The ester CH₃CH₂COOCH₂CH₃ is heated with aqueous acid.
  1. Name the ester. (1 mark)
  2. Name the two organic products. (1 mark)

Question 2 Esterification (2 marks)

Ethanoic acid reacts with propan-1-ol.
  1. Write the equation using ⇌. (1 mark)
  2. Name the catalyst. (1 mark)

Question 3 Alkaline hydrolysis (2 marks)

Methyl ethanoate is heated under reflux with aqueous sodium hydroxide.
  1. Write the equation. (1 mark)
  2. Explain why the reaction goes to completion. (1 mark)

Question 4 Making an acyl chloride (2 marks)

  1. Name a reagent that converts ethanoic acid to ethanoyl chloride. (1 mark)
  2. State the two other products. (1 mark)

Question 5 Addition-elimination (3 marks)

Ethanoyl chloride reacts with ethanol.
Incomplete mechanism for ethanoyl chloride and ethanol with the tetrahedral intermediate and the products left blankCH₃COCl+ C₂H₅OH??step 1step 2
Mechanism for the question: name the intermediate and give the products.
  1. Name the mechanism. (1 mark)
  2. Describe the intermediate. (1 mark)
  3. Give the formulae of the products. (1 mark)

Question 6 Equilibrium amounts (3 marks)

0.800 mol of ethanoic acid and 0.800 mol of ethanol are heated with a catalyst until equilibrium is reached (Kc = 4.0).
  1. Write the expression for Kc. (1 mark)
  2. Calculate the amount of ester at equilibrium. (2 marks)

Question 7 Identify an ester (3 marks)

An ester of formula C₅H₁₀O₂ is hydrolysed. Acid A has M = 60.0 and effervesces with sodium carbonate. Alcohol B, on oxidation, gives a product that forms an orange precipitate with 2,4-DNPH but gives no silver mirror.
  1. Identify A and B. (2 marks)
  2. Name the ester. (1 mark)

Question 8 Reactivity of acyl chlorides (3 marks)

  1. Explain why ethanoyl chloride reacts faster with ethanol than ethanoic acid does. (2 marks)
  2. State one practical advantage and one disadvantage of using the acyl chloride. (1 mark)

See the esterification test answers and mark scheme

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