Making esters from alcohols and acids

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A photograph showing two people in lab coats; the person in focus is carefully smelling the contents of a test tube

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Investigate the reactions between a range of alcohols and acids by producing a variety of esters in this class experiment. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

In this practical, students explore the formation of esters through the ability of different alcohols to react with organic acids. Together, the class can quickly produce a range of esters on a test tube scale, with a variety of interesting smells to sample and compare.

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