It was thought that the study of both the acid and basic hydrolysis of esters as a function of the dielectric constant of the solvent and of neutral salt concentration would be of interest in view of existing theories of rates of reactions between ions and dipolar molecules. Since esters are hydrolysed by both hydronium and hydroxyl ions the theories of ion-dipolar reaction rates could be investigated with respect to both positive and negative ions reacting with an identical dipolar molecule under like conditions of concentrations of reactants, temperature, and dielectric constant of solvent.
EXPERIMENTAL
The C. P. Ethyl For-mate, Eastman Kodak is manufactured in a high state of purity and therefore the reagent was simply dried over burnt lime for 24 hours and then distilled at an atmospheric pressure of 725.5 mm of mercury. The fraction coming off between 52.1-52.2~
C was collected. The density of ethyl formate was measured at 27" C and was found to bc o.8gsrr g/ml, Ethyl formate used in all kinetic runs was kept at 27O C and the required quantity of pure ethyl formate (0.414 ml) was added to th e reaction solution at various temperatures. It was assumed that a negligible drop in the temperature of the reaction occurred.
The acetone was prepared according to the procedure of Akerlofl as follows: Acetone, J. T. Baker analyzed, was treated in batches of about three liters with a small <amount of 85% bone phosphoric acid and immediately distilled. Then it was dried with burnt powdered lime for a day, poured off and redistilled; the fraction which came over between 55.5 and 56.0" C was collected. Weight percent. of acetone for a kinetic run was calculated from the density determination of acetone at various temperatures.