JEE Advanced levelNumerical answerDifficulty 3 of 3ev220
In a batch esterification, 60.0 kg of ethanoic acid (M = 60) and 46.0 kg of ethanol (M = 46) are charged: CHX3COOH+CX2HX5OHCHX3COOCX2HX5+HX2O. The ester (M = 88) is isolated in 75.0% yield based on the acid. Define E-factor as (total mass of materials charged minus mass of product isolated) divided by mass of product isolated; solvent and catalyst are ignored. Calculate the E-factor to two decimal places.
Numerical answer type, tolerance 0.01.
Answer: 0.61
Moles charged: acid 60.0×1000/60=1000 mol and ethanol 1000 mol. Ester isolated =1000×0.750×88=66000 g =66.0 kg. Waste =106.0−66.0=40.0 kg. E-factor =40.0/66.0=0.606≈0.61.