Question

Which of the following react with benzoic acid to form ethyl benzoate?

• A. Cinnamic acid
• B. Ethyl alcohol
• C. Sodium ethoxide
• D. Ethyl chloride

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

When benzoic acid reacts with ethyl alcohol in the presence of sulphuric acid ethyl benzoate is formed. This is known as esterification
$\underset{\text{Benzoic acid}}{C_6{H}_{5}COOH}+\underset{\text{Ethyl alcohol}}{C_2{H}_{5}OH}\stackrel{H_{2}S{O}_4}{\to }\underset{\text{Ethyl benzoate}}{C_6{H}_{5}COO{C}_2{H}_5}+\underset{\text{water}}{H_{2}O}$