The dielectric constant and salt effects upon the acid hydrolysis of ethyl formate

The hydrolysis of ethyl formate catalysed by hydrochloric acid was studied at three temperatures in water-acetone media and in water media containing different concentrations of sodium nitrate. The effect of various ionic strengths and dielectric constants upon the rate of acid hydrolysis of ethyl formate is presented from the point of electrostatics and the results were compared to like effects upon the acid hydrolysis of ethyl acetate and methyl propionate. Neither the dielectric constant effect nor the salt effect lends itself readily to theoretical interpretation. It was assumed that a partial explanation of these anomalous results might be in the extrapolation of the acid radical to the simplest carboxylic acid. This suggestion was supported somewhat by the trends towards less adherance to the electrostatic theory at certain temperatures in the series methyl propionate, ethyl acetate and ethyl formate.