Ethanol on heating with acetic acid in the presence of a few drops of sulphuric acid gives the smell of :

Options

A. Oil of wintergreen
B. Oil of mustard
C. An ester
D. Oil of bitter almonds

Answer

To solve the question "Ethanol on heating with acetic acid in the presence of a few drops of sulphuric acid gives the smell of:", we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants
The reactants in this reaction are ethanol (C2H5OH) and acetic acid (CH3COOH).

### Step 2: Understand the Role of Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) acts as a catalyst in this reaction. It helps in the dehydration process and facilitates the formation of an ester.

### Step 3: Reaction Mechanism
When ethanol and acetic acid are heated in the presence of sulfuric acid, a condensation reaction occurs. The hydroxyl group (-OH) from ethanol and the hydrogen atom from acetic acid combine to form water (H2O), leading to the formation of an ester.

### Step 4: Formation of Ester
The reaction can be summarized as follows:
- Ethanol (C2H5OH) reacts with acetic acid (CH3COOH).
- The -OH group from acetic acid and the -H from ethanol combine to form water.
- The remaining parts of the molecules combine to form ethyl acetate (CH3COOCH2CH3), which is an ester.

### Step 5: Smell of the Product
Esters are known for their characteristic fruity smells. In this case, ethyl acetate has a pleasant fruity aroma.

### Conclusion
Thus, when ethanol is heated with acetic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid, the product formed is an ester (ethyl acetate), which has a fruity smell.

### Final Answer
The smell produced is that of an ester, which is fruity in nature.

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