Important information about Fischer Esterification
1. If you look at a reaction for an esterification reaction, you cannot tell where the oxygen comes from (acid or alcohol). Draw the mechanism of this reaction, and devise an experiment using the mechanism and O18 (O18 isotope) to help prove unequivocally where the oxygen comes from.
2. The Fischer Esterification is highly reversible. State two procedures performed in the reaction
Isopentyl alcohol + Acetic acid ---H2SO4---> Isopentyl acetate
that will help drive the reaction to the right.