Esters [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 3, 2024

The general chemical formula for esters is:

R-COO-R’

Physical Properties of Esters:

Properties Details
Appearance Typically colorless liquids or crystalline solids
Boiling Point Varies depending on the specific ester compound
Density Lower than water
Melting Point Varies depending on the specific ester compound
Odor Often pleasant and fruity
Solubility Generally soluble in organic solvents, insoluble in water

Chemical Properties of Esters:

Properties Details
Combustibility Esters are generally flammable and can burn with a blue flame
Ester Cleavage Can be cleaved by strong acids or bases to regenerate carboxylic acids and alcohols
Ester Condensation Can undergo ester condensation reactions to form larger esters or polyester polymers
Esterification React with alcohols and carboxylic acids to form esters
Hydrolysis Undergo hydrolysis in the presence of water and an acid or base to form carboxylic acids and alcohols
Oxidation Some esters can undergo oxidation reactions to form corresponding carboxylic acids
Reactivity Reactivity can vary depending on the specific ester compound
Saponification React with alkalis (bases) to form soaps and glycerol

 

Reaction of easter with

 

Alkaline Earth Metal   Equation
Beryllium (Be)   –
Magnesium (Mg)   Mg + 2R’-COOR   react and convert into  Mg(OR’)2 + R’-COOH +  HYDROGEN GAS
Calcium (Ca)   Ca + 2R’-COOR + 2ROH   react and convert into  Ca(OR)2 + 2R’-COOH +  HYDROGEN GAS
Strontium (Sr)   Sr + 2R’-COOR + 2ROH   react and convert into  Sr(OR)2 + 2R’-COOH +  HYDROGEN GAS
Barium (Ba)   Ba + 2R’-COOR + 2ROH   react and convert into  Ba(OR)2 + 2R’-COOH +  HYDROGEN GAS

Reaction of easter with Transition Metal

Transition Metal   Equation
Iron (Fe)   Fe + 2R’-COOR + 2H+   react and convert into  Fe(OR’)2 + R’-COOH
Nickel (Ni)   Ni + H2 + R’-COOR   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL
Palladium (Pd)   Pd + H2 + R’-COOR   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL
Platinum (Pt)   Pt + H2 + R’-COOR   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL
Copper (Cu)   Cu + 2R’-COOR + 2H2   react and convert into  2R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL

Reaction of easter with Non-Transition Metal

Non-Transition Metal   Equation
Aluminum (Al)   Al + 3R’-COOR + 3H2O   react and convert into  Al(OR’)3 + 3R’-COOH
Zinc (Zn)   Zn + R’-COOR + 2H+   react and convert into  Zn(OR’)2 + R’-COOH
Magnesium (Mg)   Mg + 2R’-COOR + 2H2O   react and convert into  Mg(OR)2 + 2R’-COOH
Tin (Sn)   Sn + 2R’-COOR + 4H+   react and convert into  Sn(OR’)2 + R’-COOH +  HYDROGEN GAS
Silicon (Si)   Si + 4R’-COOR + 4H2O   react and convert into  Si(OR)4 + 4R’-COOH
Bismuth (Bi)   Bi + 3R’-COOR + 6H+   react and convert into  Bi(OR’)3 + 3R’-COOH + 3/2  HYDROGEN GAS

Reaction of easter with Non-Metal

Non-Metal   Equation
Hydrogen (H2)   R’-COOR + H2   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL
Oxygen (O2)   R’-COOR + O2   react and convert into  R’-COOH
Water (H2O)   R’-COOR + H2O   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL
Ammonia (NH3)   R’-COOR + NH3 (or R’-NH2)   react and convert into  R’-CONH2 +  ALCOHAL  (or R’-NH2)
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)   R’-COOR + HCl + H2O   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL  + Cl-
Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)   R’-COOR + H2SO4 + H2O   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL  + HSO4-
Phosphoric Acid (H3PO4)   R’-COOR + H3PO4 + H2O   react and convert into  R’-COOH +  ALCOHAL  + H2PO4-
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)   R’-COOR + NaOH + H2O   react and convert into  R’-COONa +  ALCOHAL
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)   R’-COOR + KOH + H2O   react and convert into  R’-COOK +  ALCOHAL

Reaction of easter with Metalloid

Metalloid   Equation
Boron (B)   B + 3R’-COOR + 3H2O   react and convert into  B(OR’)3 + 3R’-COOH
Silicon (Si)   Si + 4R’-COOR + 4H2O   react and convert into  Si(OR)4 + 4R’-COOH
Germanium (Ge)   Ge + 4R’-COOR + 4H2O   react and convert into  Ge(OR)4 + 4R’-COOH
Arsenic (As)   As + 3R’-COOR + 6H2O   react and convert into  AsH3 + 3R’-COOH + 3H2O
Antimony (Sb)   Sb + 3R’-COOR + 6H2O   react and convert into  SbH3 + 3R’-COOH + 3H2O
Tellurium (Te)   Te + 4R’-COOR + 8H2O   react and convert into  TeH4 + 4R’-COOH + 4H2O

Reaction of easter with Lanthanide

Lanthanide   Equation
Lanthanum (La)   La + 3R’-COOR + 3H2O   react and convert into  La(OR’)3 + 3R’-COOH
Cerium (Ce)   Ce + R’-COOR   react and convert into  Ce(III) + R’-COO(-) + R’-O(-)
Praseodymium (Pr)  

Reaction of easter with Actinide

Actinide   Equation
Uranium (U)   U + R’-COOR   react and convert into  U(IV) + R’-COO(-) + R’-O(-)

 

 

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