How many esters with the molecular formula #C_5H_10O_2# can be made by reacting a primary alcohol with a carboxylic acid? A. 4 B. 5 C. 6 D. 8?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-21T20:46:50

I count C. six esters.

Methyl esters don't count, because methanol is not a 1° alcohol. It has no alkyl groups attached to the carbon bearing the #"OH"# group.

There are six esters that satisfy the criteria.

Ethyl propionate

n-Propyl acetate

Isopropyl acetate

n-Butyl formate

isobutyl formate

sec-Butylformate