3c contd.

The effect of Stirring

● CAN STIRRING AFFECT THE RATE OF A REACTION?

● DOES STIRRING AFFECT THE SPEED OF THE REACTION BETWEEN A SOLID AND A
SOLUTION?
● Why does stirring speed up a reaction between a solid and a solution?
● In doing rate experiments with a solid and solution reactant ​e.g. marble chips-acid solution or a
solid catalyst like manganese(IV) oxide catalysing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide solution, it is
sometimes forgotten that stirring the mixture is an important rate factor​.
● If the reacting mixture is not stirred ‘evenly’, the reactant concentration in solution becomes much less
near the solid, which tends to settle out at the bottom of the flask.
● Therefore, at the bottom of the flask the reaction prematurely slows down distorting the overall rate
measurement and making the results uneven and therefore inaccurate. The 'unevenness' of the results
is even more evident by giving the reaction mixture the 'odd stir'! You get jumps in the graph!!!
● Stirring cannot affect a completely mixed up solution at the particle level i.e. two solutions of soluble
substance that react together are unaffected by stirring.

=>

● The procedure for preparing an ester is illustrated in the diagrams below and a detailed
description of the method for preparing ethyl ethanoate is described.
○ Ethyl ethanoate and water are both colourless, but to help in following the procedure via the
diagrams, I've coloured the ​ester yellow​ an​d the reaction mixture and aqueous solutions a pale
grey.

●
● STAGE 1 Making the ester​: In the round-bottomed flask the alcohol (ethanol) is mixed with the
carboxylic acid (ethanoic acid) and a small amount of concentrated sulfuric acid (catalyst) is added too.
 Anti-bumping granules are added to ensure a smooth boiling action. The mixture is carefully heated to
get the mixture gently boiling and refluxing.
● Stage 1 is a technique called '​heating under reflux​', and ensures the reaction occurs the fastest at
highest possible reaction temperature, the boiling point of the mixture. However, to prevent vapour loss
by boiling/evaporation, particularly of the desired product - the ester, the vapourised liquids are
condensed back into the reaction flask recycling everything.
○ The diagram shows a bunsen burner being used to supply the heat ('my days'), these days its
more likely, and safer, to use an electrical heater that the round bottomed flask fits in snugly.
●
● STAGE 2 Fractional distillation​: The colourless ester liquid is separated from the reaction mixture by
fractional distillati​on​ which is fully explained on the ​Elements, Compounds, Mixtures Notes​ (the
example described is separating an ethanol/water mixture, but the same principal applies in separating
the ester from some of the water, unreacted alcohol and acid and the sulphuric acid catalyst. Again the
mixture gently heated and boiled, but this time you want the vapour of the lowest boiling component
(ester) to separate out in the fractionating column and pass through into the condenser. This happens
when the temperature at the top of the column reaches the boiling point of the ester. The ester and small
quantities of carboxylic acid, sulfuric acid and alcohol can be collected from the condenser in a suitable
glass vessel. Preferably a quick-fit one that connects to the condenser, BUT it must not be a completely
sealed system otherwise pressure would build up, hence the vent to the sink. You should realise at this
point in the preparation that the ester (ethyl ethanoate) is very impure.