When to use conc./dilute chemicals?

I remember someone in my class asking this, but I can't remember exactly what my teacher said- how do you decide whether you should use a concentrated or dilute reagent in a reaction, e.g. in the esterification of a carboxylic acid, why do we use conc. HCl?

Thanks,

Dan

I remember someone in my class asking this, but I can't remember exactly what my teacher said- how do you decide whether you should use a concentrated or dilute reagent in a reaction, e.g. in the esterification of a carboxylic acid, why do we use <b>conc.</b> HCl?<br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
<br />
Dan

I'd guess that most of the special cases where you need to specify concentrated things are due to what's diluting it - water. In this case, the reverse reaction of an ester going back to a carboxylic acid happens with water (and is catalysed by acid) so you really want to minimise the amount of water (by using concentrated acid)

I'd guess that most of the special cases where you need to specify concentrated things are due to what's diluting it - water. In this case, the reverse reaction of an ester going back to a carboxylic acid happens with water (and is catalysed by acid) so you really want to minimise the amount of water (by using concentrated acid)

I'd guess that most of the special cases where you need to specify concentrated things are due to what's diluting it - water. In this case, the reverse reaction of an ester going back to a carboxylic acid happens with water (and is catalysed by acid) so you really want to minimise the amount of water (by using concentrated acid)

Ah, that makes sense.

Thanks

NO it doesn't.

It's a catalyst for both esterification and hydrolysis.

You will need a more concentrated acid to protonate weak bases such as esters enough to have a significant rate of reaction.

So the decision of what concentration to use is only determined by the desired rate of reaction?

Or the required concentration to get the reaction to occur

OK, so is it really just a case of learning what you need for each of the main reactions in the course? Or is it something you're meant to be able to deduce from a question?