Making Esters (Triple) – Lesson & Required Practical – Unit 4 – IGCSE Chemistry

Making Esters – Lesson & Required Practical – Unit 4 – IGCSE Chemistry
Esterification of Ethanol & Ethanoic Acid (Triple Only)

This Synapse Science resource guides students through the process of making ethyl ethanoate by reacting ethanol and ethanoic acid with an acid catalyst. It includes complete theory on the –COO– functional group, the distinctive smells of esters, and a step-by-step practical method.

Students carry out a required practical to produce and collect ethyl ethanoate using simple distillation.

TOPICS COVERED – SPECIFICATION POINTS

• 4.39C: Know that ethyl ethanoate is the ester produced when ethanol and ethanoic acid react in the presence of an acid catalyst
• 4.42C: Know that esters are volatile compounds with distinctive smells and are used as food flavourings and in perfumes
• 4.43C: Practical – Prepare a sample of an ester such as ethyl ethanoate:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Editable PowerPoint with clear explanations and diagrams of ester formation
• Required practical method for preparing and distilling ethyl ethanoate
• Review slides and questions on ester functional group and reaction mechanism
• Teacher guidance on setup, heating method, safety, and equipment
• Built-in observation and conclusion tasks

KEY FEATURES

• Fully aligned with Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry Triple content
• Real lab setup: round-bottom flask, water bath, simple distillation
• Scaffolded instructions and explanation of esterification
• Clean Synapse Science layout and practical structure

KEYWORDS
Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry, Esters, Making Esters, Ethyl Ethanoate, Esterification, Required Practical, Ethanol, Ethanoic Acid, Acid Catalyst, Organic Chemistry, Synapse Science, Unit 4, Triple Science, Lesson, Practical