The reaction between benzoic acid (C₆H₅COOH) and octanol (C₈H₁₇OH) to yield octyl benzoate (C₆H₅COOC₈H₁₇) and water
C₆H₅COOH + C₈H₁₇OH ----> C₆H₅COOC₈H₁₇ + H₂O
is carried out with an excess of C₈H₁₇OH to help drive the reaction to completion and maximize the yield of product.
If an organic chemist wants to use 1.5 molar equivalents of C₈H₁₇OH , how many grams of C₈H₁₇OH would be required to carry out the reaction with 15.7 g of C₆H₅COOH?
