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What does water impurity do to the saponification number of an ester?
Accepted Answer
Water impurities can affect the saponification number of an ester by interfering with the reaction between the ester and the base. Water can hydrolyze the ester, breaking it down into its constituent carboxylic acid and alcohol. This hydrolysis reaction competes with the saponification reaction, reducing the amount of ester available to react with the base. As a result, the saponification number, which measures the amount of base required to neutralize the carboxylic acid produced by saponification, will be lower.
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