Monitoring the Fischer Esterification Using Bench Top Gas Chromatography

Organic laboratory experiments customarily illustrate theoretical concepts discussed in lecture and introduce some of the fundamental lab skills that are used in the field. However, it is important to a student’s success that more advanced skills that are valued by a graduate’s future employer are also exemplified. We have developed an experiment suitable for the organic chemistry lab curriculum that combines a green Fischer esterification reaction with gas chromatographic monitoring using the Vernier Mini-GC that provides students with a laboratory experience mimicking that seen in an industrial or academic research lab.