Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

name         Joanna C.
status       other
age          30s

Question -   I am a translator working on a short text (in Polish) of
instructions on how to use this new emulsifier.  There is a reference to
'estrification'.  The Google search brought up this site but I have
noticed differences in spelling.  Could someone confirm whether it should
be 'estrification' or 'esterification'.  or perhaps these are two
different things?  thank you.
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"Esterification" I know;  "estrification" is probably a misspelling.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Director of Academic Programs
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois
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I am not aware of the term "estrification" in any chemical context. The term
"esterification" refers to the formation of an ester from an alcohol and an
acid, usually a carboxylic acid. You can infer if this is latter definition
is correct from the context of the topic under discussion in the text.

Vince Calder
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Short answer:

I do believe that "ESTERIFICATION" IS ALSO EQUAL TO "ESTRIFICATION".  I did
a similar search on my search engine of choice and I found there to be
identical content between each search.  As I learned it in Organic
chemistry, the word is spelled E S T E R I F I C A T I O N.  In my opinion
these ARE NOT two separate things.  They are two different spellings (one
correct, one incorrect) of the same type of organic chemistry process.

Long answer:

I am nearly 100% sure that the correct spelling is E S T E R I F I C A T I 
O N.  Because in this process ESTERS are produced...not ESTRS.

Please refer to this URL:
http://www.dbooth.net/mhs/ap/isoamylacetate.html

Esterification refers to the organic synthesis of usually a carboxylic acid
(in this case acetic acid) and an alcohol (in this case isopentyl alcohol)
in the presence of a little bit of H2SO4 (sulfuric acid).

I hope this has been informative.

Darin Wagner
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