a)If the Keq for the esterification of acetic acid with isopentyl alcohol is 3.0, what is the maximum amount of isopentyl acetate that can be recovered at equilibrium if a 1:1 mole ratio of alcohol was used?

Question

a)If the Keq for the esterification of acetic acid with isopentyl alcohol is 3.0, what is the maximum amount of isopentyl acetate that can be recovered at equilibrium if a 1:1 mole ratio of alcohol was used?
     b)If a 1:5 mole ratio was used?
     c) 5:1 mole ratio?

DrBob222 · Answer

Let ROH stand for isopentyl alcohol.
........CH3COOH + ROH ==> CH3COOR + H2O
begin....1.0 mol...1.0......0.........0
change....-x.......-x.......+x.......+x
final....1.-x.......1.0-x.....x........x

Set up Keq expression and substitute the ICE chart. Solve for x.
For the other parts, just change the starting moles.