A kinetic study of the reaction between acetic anhydride and isobutyl alcohol using a chemical oscillometer

The object of this research project is to investigate the base catalyzed reaction of acetic anhydride and isobutyl alcohol reacting to form acetic acid and isobutyl acetate. In this investigation, a high frequency oscillometer is used to observe the progress of the reaction as it proceeds to the formation of products. The chemical oscillometer, in one form or another, has been in existence for over twenty years. During this time it has developed from a laboratory curiosity to a practical instrument with a great number of applications. However, its use in connection with kinetic studies has not been too active because of the fact that it has been used primarily as a purely analytical device. A more detailed description of the instrument as well as a brief background of its use will be presented in the following chapter. Another purpose of this investigation is to determine how the velocity of the reaction in question is dependent upon the temperature of the vessel or environment in which the reaction is taking place. In other words, several rate determinations will be made at various temperatures in order to establish the relationship between these two variables. From the data obtained from this series of rate determinations, it becomes possible to calculate a theoretical term known as the energy of activation, the significance of which will be explained in Chapter IV