Year 12 Chemistry Practical
Preparing Artificial Fragrances and Flavors
In Unit 4 Chemistry, students learn about a number of different chemical reactions, including the esterification of alcohols and carboxylic acids to form esters. Esters have a strong smell, and different esters are used as artificial fragrances and flavors. In this practical, students got to experiment with combining different alcohols and carboxylic acids to form various esters. They had charts identifying the type of smell created (for example, apricot or banana), and let’s just say the combination of smells created left the room smelling very ‘delicate’.
Dr Phil Bergen
Chemistry Teacher
