What is the reaction for the acid hydrolysis of ethyl formate?

Question

What is the reaction for the acid hydrolysis of ethyl formate?

Answer 1

ethyl formate is the ethyl ester of formic acid. therefore, hydrolysis of ethyl formate will yield formic acid and ethanol

C2H5-O(C=O)H (ethyl formate) +H3O+ --> HCOOH (formic acid) + C2H5OH (ethanol) + H+

Answer 2

ethyl formate is an ester. It is formed from the esterification of ethanol (an alcohol) with formic acid, which is the common name for methanoic acid.

The correct IUPAC name for ethyl formate is ethyl methanoate. On acid hydrolysis of ethyl formate (hydrolysis= splitting), you get back methanoic (formic) acid and ethanol.

So ethyl formate ------(acid hydrolysis)= ethanol and methanoic acid.

The other reaction is hydrolysis under alkaline conditions (e.g. NaOH), in which case you get the salt of the acid ( sodium methanoate) and the alcohol ethanol. Hope this helps.