The reaction between oleic acid (C17H33COOH) and methanol (CH3OH) can be represented by the following equation.

Question

Oleic acid is a fatty acid which can be commonly found in food. It can react with methanol to form methyl oleate through esterification with the presence of a mineral acid as a catalyst. The reaction between oleic acid (C17H33COOH) and methanol (CH3OH) can be represented by the following equation.

(C17H33COOH)(solv) + CH3OH(solv) ⇌ (C17H33COOCH3)(solv) +H2O(solv)

The equilibrium constant of this reaction at 40o C is 1.67 with appropriate units.

(a) In the reaction vessel at a given time, 23.1kg of oleic acid, 12.5kg of methanol, 4.12kg of methyl oleate and 1.72kg of water were found. Please evaluate whether the system has attained equilibrium. If not, please state the direction the reaction is shifting to.

Answer 1

Equilibrium constants denote when there is a set ratio of product to reactant

That is when the amount of product (methyl oleate&water) no longer increases for a given amount of reactant(oleic acid7methanol)

In this case, it is 1.67: 1 or 1.67/1 as a ratio.

This means equilibrium is reached once (methyl oleate x water)/ (oleic acid x methanol)= 1.67

If we calculate the number of moles of each reactant/product by using the equation mol=mass/molar mass we arrive at an equilibrium ratio of 0.04:1 rather than the1.67: 1 we want.

This means that the reaction is only just beginning and there is still a lot more methyl oleate and water yet to be made.