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THE ETHANOL + ACETIC ACID LAB

Abstract

We carried out several runs of the reaction Acetic Acid + Ethanol goes to Ethyl Ethanoate + water. The concentration of water was included in the equilibrium constant expression because its concentration changes by a large amount. When this was done, we measured a mean equilibrium constant value of 4.26 with a standard deviation of 0.61. (If the concentration of water is not included in the equilibrium constant calculation, then an equilibrium constant value of about 0.6 is computed.) The corresponding lab temperature was near 18 degrees C. We also placed several reaction mixtures in the refrigerator (4 degrees C) and measured a mean equilibrium constant value of 5.19 with a standard deviation of 0.45. The higher equilibrium constant at the lower temperature is consistent with an exothermic reaction. When this lab was presented to the students as a laboratory exercise, the students gave favorable ratings for it. Three things that helped students complete this lab last semester are: 1) they were required to compute the mass of glacial acetic acid and ethanol needed to make 0.300 moles of each compound as a pre-lab exercise, 2) they were given homework problems with calculations like those in this lab and 3) they were shown the two reactions for the lab and they were given guidance on which one to use for the specific lab task.

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