The report will contain information about our investigation of producing and testing the
purity of ethyl ethanoate which is used as a substance for making nail polish remover for a
company. By testing its purity, the company we are working for will determine its efficiency.
We must compare our laboratory work with the industrial process used by the company so
that it can be decided whether the product will be manufactured to be made in a larger
scale.
Ethyl ethanoate is an ester produced during esterification which is known to be a slow and
reversible reaction. The production involves the process of heating a carboxylic acid which in
our case is: ethanoic acid with an alcohol: ethanol. In between the process a catalyst must
be used so that it can speed up the reaction. We used concentrated sulphuric acid, in
smaller amounts because larger amounts might lead to product being wasted and would
have had an effect in the separation process which can also affect the resulting yield. As well
as having chemicals which are volatile meaning that reactants and products can be lost
giving us a very small yield.
Ethyl ethanoate is commonly used in pharmaceuticals, perfumes, or flavourings. It can act as
an organic solvent, but it is important in our investigation that it can be effective to be used
as a component for nail polish remover.
Equipment used:
, OBSERVATION RECORD
We have investigated the production of ethyl ethanoate using reflux and distil-
lation method.
To provide a safe practical, we set up our own equipment for each method.
This tested our skills and abilities to work safely as we paid attention for not
breaking the glassware or measuring the right amounts of chemicals, as well as
not causing spillages of any chemicals involved throughout the experiment.
Reflux and distillation processes, require heating of organic solvents, so all
chemicals used should not be exposed to heat sources, especially Bunsen burn-
ers because it can provide very high heat source which can ignite organic
solvents and vapours.
To perform a safe practical, we used a water bath instead of a naked flame,
when heating reactants above 100 ° C. We used a large container to hold the
reaction flask.
This technique is also used for having a controllable heating when both flaks
are used, naked flames are not used, minimises the risk of ignition.
We also ensured that:
purity of ethyl ethanoate which is used as a substance for making nail polish remover for a
company. By testing its purity, the company we are working for will determine its efficiency.
We must compare our laboratory work with the industrial process used by the company so
that it can be decided whether the product will be manufactured to be made in a larger
scale.
Ethyl ethanoate is an ester produced during esterification which is known to be a slow and
reversible reaction. The production involves the process of heating a carboxylic acid which in
our case is: ethanoic acid with an alcohol: ethanol. In between the process a catalyst must
be used so that it can speed up the reaction. We used concentrated sulphuric acid, in
smaller amounts because larger amounts might lead to product being wasted and would
have had an effect in the separation process which can also affect the resulting yield. As well
as having chemicals which are volatile meaning that reactants and products can be lost
giving us a very small yield.
Ethyl ethanoate is commonly used in pharmaceuticals, perfumes, or flavourings. It can act as
an organic solvent, but it is important in our investigation that it can be effective to be used
as a component for nail polish remover.
Equipment used:
, OBSERVATION RECORD
We have investigated the production of ethyl ethanoate using reflux and distil-
lation method.
To provide a safe practical, we set up our own equipment for each method.
This tested our skills and abilities to work safely as we paid attention for not
breaking the glassware or measuring the right amounts of chemicals, as well as
not causing spillages of any chemicals involved throughout the experiment.
Reflux and distillation processes, require heating of organic solvents, so all
chemicals used should not be exposed to heat sources, especially Bunsen burn-
ers because it can provide very high heat source which can ignite organic
solvents and vapours.
To perform a safe practical, we used a water bath instead of a naked flame,
when heating reactants above 100 ° C. We used a large container to hold the
reaction flask.
This technique is also used for having a controllable heating when both flaks
are used, naked flames are not used, minimises the risk of ignition.
We also ensured that:
