--- title: "Making an ester: reflux, then distil Template | MolDraw" url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-ester-reflux/ description: "Making an ester: reflux, then distil template: A-level / AP / IB / Abitur: ethanoic acid, ethanol and conc. H₂SO₄ refluxed in a round-bottom flask with an…" lang: en publisher: Scidart Academy generated: 2026-10-28 --- [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) › [Templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) › [Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/reaction-setups/) › Making an ester: reflux, then distil [Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/reaction-setups/)Premium # Making an ester: reflux, then distil template ![Making an ester: reflux, then distil template: A-level / AP / IB / Abitur: ethanoic acid, ethanol and conc. H₂SO₄ refluxed in a round-bottom flask with an open condenser, then the same flask fitted for distillation to collect ethyl ethanoate at 74–79 °C.](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-ester-reflux.webp) [Edit in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)Download with Pro Premium template. Preview and edit it free in MolDraw; downloading and exporting it is part of [MolDraw Pro](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing). A-level / AP / IB / Abitur: ethanoic acid, ethanol and conc. H₂SO₄ refluxed in a round-bottom flask with an open condenser, then the same flask fitted for distillation to collect ethyl ethanoate at 74–79 °C. ## What the template shows - Heat a carboxylic acid and an alcohol with an acid catalyst, then distil off the ester - Water out - 1. Reflux condenser - Open at the top, never stoppered; reflux for 20–30 min - Ethanoic acid, excess ethanol, a few drops of conc. H₂SO₄ and anti-bumping granules. CH₃COOH + C₂H₅OH ⇌ CH₃COOC₂H₅ + H₂O - Mantle or water bath: no flames near ethanol and the ester - Cool, refit the flask for distillation; collect at 74–79 °C (ethyl ethanoate boils at 77 °C) - Crude ester - Shake with Na₂CO₃ solution to remove acid (vent the CO₂), then CaCl₂ solution to remove ethanol; dry over anhydrous CaCl₂ and redistil. A test-tube version (warm, pour into Na₂CO₃ solution, smell) suits GCSE / CBSE - Reaction setup Drawn with 23 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw. ## Sources - [Fischer & Speier, Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. 1895, 28, 3252](https://doi.org/10.1002/cber.189502803176) Original paper - [Clayden, Greeves & Warren, Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed., OUP 2012, ch. 10](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780199270293) Textbook - [Furniss et al., Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 5th ed., Longman 1989](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780582462366) Textbook ## How to use this template 1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor. 2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need. 3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page. 4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Making an ester: reflux, then distil template free? You can preview the Making an ester: reflux, then distil template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates. ### Can I edit the Making an ester: reflux, then distil template? Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it. ### Is the chemistry checked? Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page. ### Can I edit the glassware? Yes. Every piece of glassware is a MolDraw apparatus object: move, resize, recolour the liquid or swap a piece and the joints stay connected. ## More reaction setups templates [**Heating under reflux**Free · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-reflux/)[**Simple distillation**Free · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-distillation/)[**Dean–Stark water removal**Free · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-dean-stark/)[**Soxhlet extraction**Premium · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-soxhlet/)[**Vacuum filtration**Premium · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-vacuum-filtration/)[**Liquid–liquid extraction**Premium · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-extraction/)[**Reaction under nitrogen**Premium · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-inert/)[**Acid–base titration**Premium · Reaction setups](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/setup-titration/) ## Related pages [**Chemistry Lab Report Template**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/lab-report-template/)[**Titration Calculations Worksheet**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/titration-worksheet/)[**TLC and Rf Values Worksheet**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/tlc-rf-worksheet/)[**All Reaction setups templates**102 templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/reaction-setups/)[**All chemistry templates**370 templates in 29 categories](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) MolDraw Pro Download all 370 templates - Export the 291 premium templates as PNG, SVG or PDF - AI chemistry assistant - Structure scanning from images - Cloud save and teaching slides [See Pro plans](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing) Free templates stay free. Every template can be opened and edited in MolDraw.