Comparison between ethyl acetate and butyl acetate

Ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, both of which are important members of esters in organic compounds, are widely used in the chemical industry. The following is a detailed comparison of the two.

First, physical and chemical properties
1. ** Ethyl acetate **: Its chemical formula is $C_ {4} H_ {8} O_ {2} $, it is a colorless transparent and pungent odor liquid at room temperature and pressure, with a relative density of 0.902 dollars, a boiling point of about 77 dollars ^ {\ circ} C $, and a melting point of $-83.6 ^ {\ circ} C $. It is slightly soluble in water and miscible with most organic solvents such as ethanol and ether.
2. ** Butyl acetate **: The chemical formula is $C_ {6} H_ {12} O_ {2} $, which is also a colorless and transparent liquid, but the smell is softer than ethyl acetate, like fruit aroma. The relative density is 0.882 dollars $, the boiling point is about 126 dollars ^ {\ circ} C $, the melting point is $-73.5 ^ {\ circ} C $, the solubility in water is very small, and it can be miscible with organic solvents such as alcohols and ethers. From this point of view, due to the different number of carbon atoms in the molecular structure of the two, there are differences in physical properties such as boiling point and density. Butyl acetate has a slightly lower boiling point and density than ethyl acetate due to its long carbon chain.

Second, the preparation method
1. ** Preparation of ethyl acetate **: It is commonly prepared by esterification reaction with acetic acid and ethanol as raw materials under the catalysis of concentrated sulfuric acid. The reaction formula is: $CH_ {3} COOH + C_ {2} H_ {5} OH\ underset {\ triangle} {\ overset {concentrated sulfuric acid} {\ rightleftharpoons}} CH_ {3} COOC_ {2} H_ {5} + H_ {2} O $. This reaction is a reversible reaction. In actual production, the equilibrium is often moved forward by increasing the concentration of the reactants or removing the product water in time to improve the yield of ethyl acetate.
2. ** Preparation of butyl acetate **: Usually acetic acid and n-butanol are used for esterification under the catalysis of sulfuric acid. The reaction equation is: $CH_ {3} COOH + C_ {4} H_ {9} OH\ underset {\ triangle} {\ overset {concentrated sulfuric acid} {\ rightleftharpoons}} CH_ {3} COOC_ {4} H_ {9} + H_ {2} O $. Similar to the preparation of ethyl acetate, it is also a reversible reaction, and corresponding measures need to be taken to increase the yield. However, due to the more complex molecular structure of n-butanol than ethanol, the reaction conditions and yield control may be slightly different.

III. Application field
1. ** Ethyl acetate **: Because of its good solubility and fast volatilization rate, it is widely used in coatings and ink industries. It is often used as a solvent, which can make coatings and inks evenly dispersed and easy to construct and dry. At the same time, in the field of food additives, because of its certain aroma, it can be used to prepare artificial flavors and add food flavor. In addition, in the pharmaceutical industry, it is also used as a solvent and extractant for the extraction and purification of pharmaceutical ingredients.
2. ** Butyl acetate **: Also as a solvent, in coatings and paints, its volatilization rate is relatively slow, which can make the coating drying process more uniform and reduce defects such as orange peel and pinholes. It is especially suitable for high-grade coatings. In the fragrance industry, due to its unique fruit aroma, it is an important raw material for blending a variety of fruity flavors. In the field of electronics industry, it is used to clean electronic components, because of its good solubility and volatility, it can effectively remove oil and impurities without leaving traces.

To sum up, although ethyl acetate and butyl acetate are both esters, there are many differences in physical and chemical properties, preparation methods and application fields. In practical applications, they need to be reasonably selected according to specific needs.