Which of the following is commonly used as the catalyst in a Fischer esterification?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Concentrated sulfuric acid is commonly used as the catalyst in a Fischer esterification reaction. It acts both as a catalyst by protonating the carbonyl oxygen of the carboxylic acid, making it more susceptible to nucleophilic attack, and as a dehydrating agent by removing water from the reaction mixture. The other options, acetic acid, dilute hydrochloric acid, and dilute sulfuric acid, are not strong enough acids to effectively protonate the carbonyl oxygen of the carboxylic acid or remove water from the reaction mixture.

Which of the Following Is Commonly Used as the Catalyst