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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: lukas.stib on January 12, 2020, 09:37:01 AM

Title: How much H2SO4?
Post by: lukas.stib on January 12, 2020, 09:37:01 AM

Hello chemists,

I want to make methyl salicylate, and I have a mixture of salicylic acid and methanol. I have 250 grams of salicylic acid and 58 g methanol by stoichiometry, but I used a very large excess, I´m using a total of about 240 g of methanol. But now I don't know how much to add sulfuric acid as a catalyst? Should I use about 60 ml or more?

Thank you, Lukáš S.

Title: Re: How much H2SO4?
Post by: chenbeier on January 12, 2020, 09:55:45 AM

I think this is to much, I would tes 2 to 5 ml sulfuric.

Title: Re: How much H2SO4?
Post by: lukas.stib on January 12, 2020, 10:35:28 AM

I have heard that it is supposed to give more sulfuric acid, that helps to bind water and helps to esterification...

Title: Re: How much H2SO4?
Post by: lukas.stib on January 12, 2020, 10:53:07 AM

And I used a very large excess, so I think there should be more sulfuric acid...

Title: Re: How much H2SO4?
Post by: AWK on January 12, 2020, 11:26:44 AM

These are typical proportions allowing yield about 80 %.

Title: Re: How much H2SO4?
Post by: lukas.stib on January 12, 2020, 11:39:42 AM

OK, thank you very much.