Preparation of Methyl Salicylate Report

Esters are aromatic compounds used in various fields such as the cosmetic industries due to their fragrance. Alcohol combines with a carboxylic acid to form an ester in a process referred to as Fischer esterification. For the reaction to yield at a preferable rate, an acid catalyst must be used. One of the major drawbacks in esterification is its acid-catalyzed process that happens at equilibrium. Therefore, to drive the reaction to favor product formation, one reactant must be in excess.