[Michael]

In making esters using ethanol and glacial ethanoic acid the method used by one of my teachers was:

To mix the ethanol and ethanoic acid together with sulphuric acid and warm in a water bath. Well up to here is basic for me but then the ester was not smelt until the mixture was poured into a beaker with ice cold water.

This is what is puzzling me because the alcohol and the acid will give the ester and water with the sulphuric acid acting as a dehydrating agent and catalyze.

So why pour it in the cold water and why was the ester only then smelt.

I looked up that glacial ethanoic acid is : Anhydrous (water-free) acetic acid is sometimes called glacial acetic acid because it solidifies just below room temperature, at 16.7°C. Does this have something to do with it?

Thanks for any help