Question

What carboxylic acid and alcohol react to give ethyl methanoate?

Short answer

Methanoic acid and ethanol react to give ethyl methanoate.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Ester

Ethyl methanoate is an ester, which is formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. Its formula is represented as \( C_3H_6O_2 \). In esters, the name indicates the alcohol and carboxylic acid components. The first part of the name 'ethyl' indicates the alcohol, and the second part 'methanoate' hints the carboxylic acid.

Determine the Alcohol

The 'ethyl' part of ethyl methanoate suggests that the alcohol used in its formation is ethanol. Ethanol has the chemical formula \( C_2H_5OH \) or \( CH_3CH_2OH \).

Determine the Carboxylic Acid

The 'methanoate' part of the ester name indicates the methanoic acid (formic acid) is used. Methanoic acid has the chemical formula \( HCOOH \).

Chemical Reaction Equation

The reaction to form ethyl methanoate can be represented by a condensation (esterification) reaction: \[ HCOOH + C_2H_5OH \rightarrow HCOOC_2H_5 + H_2O \]This equation shows methanoic acid reacting with ethanol to produce ethyl methanoate and water.

Key concepts

Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids are a class of organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group (COOH). These compounds are essential in organic chemistry due to their reactivity and ability to form hydrogen bonds. A notable feature of carboxylic acids is their acidity, which allows them to donate protons (H\(^+\)) when dissolved in water. This acidity is due to the carboxyl group's polar nature and the stability of the resulting carboxylate ion.
One common example of a carboxylic acid is methanoic acid, also known as formic acid. Its chemical formula is \(HCOOH\), featuring a single carbon atom bonded to a carboxyl group. Carboxylic acids like methanoic acid can react with alcohols in esterification reactions to form esters. This reaction not only produces esters but also gives off water, showcasing the transformation of a carboxylic acid into an ester.

Alcohols in Chemistry

Alcohols are organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to a carbon atom chain. These groups influence the alcohol's properties, such as solubility and boiling point. Alcohols are versatile substances in chemistry, used in both industrial processes and everyday products ranging from sanitizers to beverages.
In the context of our exercise, the alcohol involved is ethanol. Ethanol's formula is \(C_2H_5OH\), and it is one of the simplest forms of alcohol. When ethanol reacts with carboxylic acids, such as methanoic acid, in a process called esterification, an ester and water are produced. Ethyl methanoate, the ester we derived, embodies this reaction perfectly. The 'ethyl' part of the name points directly to the ethanol molecule's contribution to the ester.

Chemical Reaction Equations

Chemical reaction equations are formulas that depict what occurs during a chemical reaction. These equations illustrate the reactants, the substances you start with, and the products, what you get after the reaction. Correctly balancing these equations ensures the law of conservation of mass is respected  the atoms on one side must equal the atoms on the other.
In the esterification process featured in this exercise, the equation \[ HCOOH + C_2H_5OH \rightarrow HCOOC_2H_5 + H_2O \] clearly shows methanoic acid reacting with ethanol to create ethyl methanoate and water. 

• The "\(\rightarrow\)" symbol indicates the reaction direction, from reactants to products.
• This equation is balanced, meaning the number of each type of atom on the reactant side matches those in the product.
• The inclusion of water illustrates the loss of the hydroxyl (-OH) group from the acid and the hydrogen atom from the alcohol to form this byproduct.

This equation gives insight into how different components convert into new substances, forming the essence of chemistry's transformative beauty.