In the esterification of ethanol with ethanoic acid, what is the main role of concentrated H₂SO₄?
Correct answer A. It acts as a catalyst and absorbs the water formed
Explanation
Concentrated sulphuric acid protonates the acid to speed up the reaction and, being a dehydrating agent, removes water. This shifts the reversible equilibrium towards ethyl ethanoate and improves the yield.
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