You are trying to carry out the acid‐catalyzed esterification of benzoic acid with ethanol. Which of the following would not lead to a higher yield of the ester?
a. excess ethanol
b. react benzoic acid with thionyl chloride first
c. excess benzoic acid
d. removal of water by distillation
e. removal of ethanol by distillation
Answer: e. removal of ethanol by distillation