Here's the secret.
ROH are alcohols.
RCOOH are acids. I will write this as R'COOH to differentiate this R with the R of the alcohol. They can be but are not always the same.
Alcohols + acids = esters + H2O.
ROH + R'COOH ==> R'COOR + H2O
So you take CH3CH2COOH + CH3OH ==>
CH3CH2COOCH3 which is methyl propionate.
Complete the reaction:
Methanol and propanoic acid are mixed.
Okay, I got the two formulas:
CH3OH + CH3CH2COOH ---> ???
...now I don't know what to do. Lots of CH3's and CH2's. Help?
Thanks!
1 answer