Methodology

20 grams of each mixtures containing 10, 25, 40, and 60 percent by weight acetic acid in water were
prepared and titrated with ethyl acetate to cloudiness. The amount of ethyl acetate used was recorded.
Another 20 grams of each mixtures of the same solutions were titrated with water to cloudiness. The tie
line was determined by preparing 40 ml of mixture containing 10 percent acetic acid with 45 percent
ethyl acetate and 45 percent water. The mixture was allowed to equilibrate, and the two layers were
separated using a separatory funnel. The density of each layer was also determined. 5 ml of each layer
was then titrated with 0.20M sodium hydroxide, with use of phenolphthalein as indicator.

Results and Discussion

Ethyl acetate is used as a solvent for the extraction of acetic acid from dilute aqueous solutions. Acetic
acid and ethyl acetate have different properties when reacted with water. Acetic acid is soluble in water
while ethyl acetate is insoluble. The two compounds formed a clear miscible solution, forming a
homogeneous solution (one liquid phase). However, the solution became cloudy after adding water
which indicates that it is no longer miscible to each other. Thus, forming a two-layer or two-liquid phase.
Both water and ethyl acetate were titrated into mixtures (part I and part II of the experiment). As the
mixtures turn cloudy, it indicates that two-phase system was formed. The reaction of ethyl acetate-
water-acetic acid showed a two-phase system because of the decreasing solubility of the mixture.

The addition of water to ethyl acetate and acetic acid change the mutual solubility of the components.
As water is more soluble in acetic acid compared to ethyl acetate, the mutual solubility decreased.
Further addition of water resulted in one phase or homogeneous solution.