When a carboxylic acid such as salicylic acid reacts with an alcohol (or a phenol) in the presence of a strong acid, an ester is formed. The catalyst is usually concentrated sulfuric acid. ... The crude product was dissolved in 5ml of ethanol in a 100ml conical flask. 2. 30ml of hot distilled water was added to the solution. 3. ... There could be problems that might have affected the result, such as, when dissolving the initial amount of salicylic acid in the solution of acetic anhydride and concentrated sulfuric acid, it did not completely dissolve into the solution, even when it was being h...

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