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Why did a white persipitate form when heating isobutyl oleate, sodium sulphate and sulfuric acid in heptane?
Accepted Answer
The formation of a white precipitate when heating isobutyl oleate, sodium sulfate, and sulfuric acid in heptane likely results from the reaction of sulfuric acid with isobutyl oleate to form an ester. Sulfuric acid acts as a catalyst for esterification, promoting the reaction between the carboxylic acid group in oleate and the alcohol group in isobutyl alcohol. The white precipitate could be the newly formed ester, which is typically less soluble in heptane than the starting materials.
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