Esterification lab design

[Helena]

I'm supposed to do the design of a lab investigating one aspect of esterification. Strangely enough, we haven't covered the topic yet. That's why I have no idea what research question I should choose. Does investigating the rate of reaction influenced by different amounts of sulfuric acid make any sense? Is it sensible to focus on the role of temperature needed to heat an alcohol with a carboxylic acid? I would be grateful if anyone could help.

[Mahuta ♥]

I am not sure I quite get what you mean by "one aspect of esterification", you mean like a certain reaction, a certain factor, like investigating temperature or anything that has got to do with esterification?

If it's number 1, then go to your study guide, pick an esterification reaction, and just come up with 'something' to investigate, it doesn't have to be genuis.

If it's number 2, then once again go to your study guide, or text book, look up factor affecting esterification, or 'deduce' them and use that factor as the changing variable.

If it's number 3, then just do ANYTHING that has got to do with esterification.

I know this sounds like I am stating the obvious, but it is true, my teacher used to tell us that, the whole time.

Oh, and if you have access to the OXFORD textbook, they usually talk about an investigation in almost every topic, it gives you ideas.

Please note that this is as far as I can go with helping, unless you have certain concepts you don't understand, we are not allowed to give research topic suggestions..

Good luck

[Helena]

Thanks a lot for your advice. Obviously, I don't expect you to make up the topic for me - I'm accustomed with IB rules I guess we can choose whatever aspect we like but I find this discretion confusing too . I only wanted to know whether the temperature or amounts of sulfuric acid could be used as independent variables. I know my doubts may sound stupid, so thank you for your reply.

[Mahuta ♥]

If X is the solution you're starting with, X is going to be an independent variable.

Temperature change in the reaction is a dependent, you can't control that..the reaction does. However if you are changing the temperature in which the reaction takes place then as I am sure you already know, that means temperature in this case is independent.

Since you can use any aspect, like I said just take a reaction from a text book, or a study guide, and do it by changing a certain variable every time..after all, you're only designing, so you don't need to worry about it being possibly done in a school lab or no.