The ester methyl butanoate has the odor and flavor of strawberries.
c Use condensed structural formula to write the balanced chemical equation for the acid hydrolysis of methyl butanoate.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Start by identifying the condensed structural formula of methyl butanoate. Methyl butanoate is an ester with the formula CH3CH2CH2COOCH3. This ester consists of a butanoic acid portion (CH3CH2CH2CO-) and a methyl group (-OCH3).
2. Understand the process of acid hydrolysis of an ester. In acid hydrolysis, an ester reacts with water (H2O) in the presence of an acid catalyst (e.g., HCl or H2SO4) to produce a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.
3. Write the reactants for the reaction. The reactants are methyl butanoate (CH3CH2CH2COOCH3) and water (H2O).
4. Determine the products of the reaction. The ester bond breaks, yielding butanoic acid (CH3CH2CH2COOH) and methanol (CH3OH).
5. Combine the reactants and products into a balanced chemical equation: CH3CH2CH2COOCH3 + H2O → CH3CH2CH2COOH + CH3OH. Ensure that the number of atoms of each element is balanced on both sides of the equation.

Key Concepts

Esterification and Hydrolysis

Esterification is a chemical reaction that forms an ester from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, typically involving the elimination of water. Hydrolysis is the reverse process, where an ester reacts with water to produce an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. Understanding these reactions is crucial for writing balanced equations involving esters like methyl butanoate.

Condensed Structural Formula

A condensed structural formula provides a simplified representation of a molecule, showing the arrangement of atoms and the connectivity between them without depicting all the bonds explicitly. For methyl butanoate, the condensed formula is CH3(CH2)2COOCH3, which helps in visualizing the molecular structure necessary for writing the chemical equation.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, adhering to the law of conservation of mass. This process is essential in accurately representing the reactants and products in the acid hydrolysis of methyl butanoate, allowing for a correct stoichiometric relationship.