Problem- In a fisher esterification cimmanic acid, anhydrous ethyl alcohol, one drop of sulfuric acid, and a black boiling stone are put in a flask. Two distillation heads with steel wool are attached to the flask. The solution undergoes a one hour reflux period. When the reflux is complete it is cooled to room temperature, ethanol is removed, and the product is diluted with ether. The acid is neutralized by sodium bicarbonate solution and then an extraction is completed with saturated sodium chloride solution.
Questions: What does the anhydrous ethyl alchol do to the cinnamic acid? Why is one drop of sulfuric acid added? Why is the distillation heads packed with steel wool? Why does the reflux take an hour and why does it need to cool before the final step? Why is ether used to dilute the product? Why is an extraction with sodium chloride solution performed?
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