Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
ESTERS
Esters from inorganic acids
C
2
H
5
OH +
H
2
SO
4
C
2
H
5
OSO
3
H+H
2
O
ethanol
sulfuric acid
ethyl sulfate
C
2
H
5
OH + HNO
3
C
2
H
5
ONO
2
+H
2
O
ethanol
nitric acid
ethyl nitrate
CH
2
OH
CH
2
ONO
2
CHONO
2
CHOH
+ HNO
3
+H
2
O
CH
2
OH
CH
2
ONO
2
glycerine
nitroglycerine
(glycerine trinitrate)
Alcohols form esters from inorganic acids as shown above. Like all esteri-
fications, these reactions are reversible; that is, in the presence of water and
the right conditions, they revert to the original alcohol and acid. Nitrate esters
are mainly used as explosives, but some have found use as diesel fuel
additives. Note the difference between a nitrate ester such as ethyl nitrate
(C
2
H
5
ONO
2
) and an organic nitro compound such as nitroethane (C
2
H
5
NO
2
).
