Which ester is formed when methanol reacts with ethanoic acid?

Study for the Medical Chemistry Test. Explore multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready with engaging quizzes and comprehensive study materials.

Multiple Choice

Which ester is formed when methanol reacts with ethanoic acid?

Ester formation from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol follows Fischer esterification, where the alkyl group of the alcohol becomes the ester’s “R” group and the carboxyl part from the acid becomes the acyl portion. Methanol contributes the methyl group, while ethanoic acid provides the ethanoate moiety, yielding methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate) with the balanced equation CH3COOH + CH3OH → CH3COOCH3 + H2O. The name reflects the methyl from the alcohol and the ethanoate from the acid. If ethanol reacted with ethanoic acid, you’d get ethyl ethanoate; if methanol reacted with formic acid, you’d get methyl formate.

Ester formation from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol follows Fischer esterification, where the alkyl group of the alcohol becomes the ester’s “R” group and the carboxyl part from the acid becomes the acyl portion. Methanol contributes the methyl group, while ethanoic acid provides the ethanoate moiety, yielding methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate) with the balanced equation CH3COOH + CH3OH → CH3COOCH3 + H2O. The name reflects the methyl from the alcohol and the ethanoate from the acid. If ethanol reacted with ethanoic acid, you’d get ethyl ethanoate; if methanol reacted with formic acid, you’d get methyl formate.

More practice questions