AQA · Chemistry · 8462

GCSE Chemistry (AQA): Esters

Topic 7 — Organic Chemistry. Generated from the caption track of Cognito's lesson video "GCSE Chemistry - Esters (2026/27 exams)"; each card deep-links to the moment in the video it came from. Lesson 7.15 of Cognito's AQA GCSE Chemistry (Triple) course (Higher tier), filed under AQA Chemistry 8462. Teaching by Cognito — https://cognitoedu.org/coursesubtopic/c2-gcse-aqa-h-t_7.15.

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  1. What is the byproduct when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol?

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    Water.

  2. Which catalyst is normally used in the formation of an ester?

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    Concentrated sulfuric acid — an acid catalyst that speeds up the reaction.

  3. Which atoms combine to form the water molecule in esterification?

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    The OH group lost by the carboxylic acid and the hydrogen lost from the alcohol's OH group.

  4. Which two types of compound react together to form an ester?

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    A carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

  5. What does it mean that esters are volatile?

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    They evaporate easily.

  6. Which part of the carboxylic acid is lost when an ester forms?

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    Its OH group.

  7. How are the smells of esters typically described?

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    Pleasant — often sweet or fruity.

  8. The COO group is also called the ester ?, because it joins the carboxylic acid to the alcohol.

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    link

  9. Which carboxylic acid and alcohol are used to make ethyl ethanoate?

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    Ethanoic acid and ethanol.

  10. What is the functional group of an ester?

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    The COO group (also called the ester group or ester link).

  11. Why are esters used in perfumes and food flavourings?

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    They have pleasant, sweet or fruity smells and are volatile, so they evaporate easily and reach the nose.

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