Experiment: Synthesis of an Ester
Week 7

• Referring to p. 36 in the reader, what is the reasoning behind the differing solubilities of the starting materials and products in water?
  
  
• Consider the following equations relevant to this week's experiment:
  
  
  Sodium bicarbonate is used to extract the excess acetic acid from the organic layer. From reading the experiment protocol in the text, you are aware that upon addition of the sodium bicarbonate gas evolution (carbon dioxide) is evident. Explain mechanistically the formation of water and carbon dioxide from the decomposition of carbonic acid.