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JEE Advanced levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 3 of 3ap036

Which statements about esterification are correct?

  1. APhenol gives phenyl ethanoate in good yield on heating with ethanoic acid and conc. .
  2. BPhenol reacts with ethanoyl chloride in the presence of pyridine to give phenyl ethanoate.
  3. CRemoving water as it forms shifts the Fischer esterification equilibrium toward the ester.
  4. DSalicylic acid with methanol and a trace of conc. gives methyl salicylate.

Answer: B, C, D

Phenols are poor nucleophiles and do not esterify directly with carboxylic acids; acyl chlorides or anhydrides are used (statement 1 false, statement 2 true). Fischer esterification is reversible, so removing water favours the ester. Salicylic acid's carboxyl group esterifies with methanol to give methyl salicylate.
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