Question

How does ethanol react with acetic acid?

Answer 1

When alcohols react with acetic acid in the presence of conc. H₂SO₄ at high temperatures, they produce the corresponding esters; this process is called esterification.

\[\ce{\underset{Ethanol}{C2H5OH} + CH3COOH ->[Conc{.} H2SO4] \underset{(Ethyl acetate)}{\underset{Ethyl ethanoate}{CH3COOC2H5}}}\]