Lab 5: Preparation of Synthetic Banana Oil
September 20th, 2012

Purpose:
The main purpose of this experiment was to synthesize banana oil (isopentyl acetate.) Ester are often prepared by the Fischer esterification method, which involves heating a carboxylic acid with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Theory:
Synthesize isopentyl acetate by combining isopentyl alcohol with acetic acid and sulfuric acid and then heating the reaction mixture under reflux for an hour. The alcohol is the limiting reactant, so it should be weighed/ the acids can be measured by volume. The esterification reaction is reversible, and it has an equilibrium constant of approximately 4.2. A pure component can be obtained from a mixture by …show more content…

Safety Note: Acetic acid causes chemical burns that can seriously damage skin and eyes; its vapors are highly irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Wear gloves, dispense under a hood, avoid contact, and do not breathe its vapors. Sulfuric acid causes chemical burns that can seriously damage skin and eyes. Wear gloves and avoid contact. Isopentyl alcohol and isopentyl acetate can irritate the