Preparation of Esters Fischer Esterification

Fischer esterification is the acid-catalyzed condensation of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, 

When a carboxylic acid and an alcohol are heated in the presence of an acid catalyst (usually HCl or H2SO4), an equilibrium is established with the ester and water. 

The process is called Fischer esterification after Emil Fischer (page 163), who developed the method. Although the reaction is an equilibrium, it can be shifted to the right in several ways. If either the alcohol or the acid is inexpensive, a large excess can be used. Alternatively, the ester and/or water may be removed as formed (by distillation, for example), thus driving the reaction forward. 

PROBLEM 10.16 Following eq. 10.17, write an equation for the preparation of ethyl pentanoate from the correct acid and alcohol. 

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