Triethyl phosphate is a colourless liquid occasionally used as a solvent in the lab. Its formula is C6H15O4 I don't really have any use for it but I just made some for fun.
REAGENTS:
- ethanol
- phosphoric acid
- conc hydrochloric acid
- water
- large RBF flask
- liebig condenser
- retort stand
- clamps x2
- aluminium foil
- rubber band
- litmus paper
- keck clip
This method uses esterification with conc hydrochloric acid as a catalyst. I started by preparing a reflux setup using the liebig condenser, retort stand, clamps, RBF flask, keck clip and sealed the top with aluminium foil and a rubber band.
To the RBF flask I added water, ethanol, phosphoric acid, conc hydrochloric acid. I refluxed for 1-2 hours then poured the mixture into a beaker. Under the beaker I placed a hotplate and simmered the mixture down. Once the mixture stopped releasing lots of bubbles I collected it. It had a very strong cidery smell, so I believe it's triethyl phosphate.
3 C2H5OH + H3PO4 ==> (C2H5)3PO4 + 3 H2O
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