2-phyenlyacetic acid + ethanol and H2SO4 yields Ethyl-2-Phenylacetate An important characteristic in the mechanism of this reactionis the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate which is the result of a. the alcohol attacking the 2-phenylacetic acid with the subsequent loss of a proton. b. protonation of the ethanol by H2SO4. c. protonation of the carbonyl oxygen of the 2-phenylacetic acid. d. protonation of the hydroxyl group of the 2-phenylacetic acid.