Please answer the questions below pertaining to the synthesis of Methyl Benzoate by Fischer Esterification:

a. Why is the flask placed in ice before addition of sulfuric acid?

b. What is the purpose of the 25 mL of water and 17 mL of ether in step 3, and the 15 mL of water and 15 mL of NaHCO₃ in step 5 in addition to removing unreacted benzoic acid?

c. What is the purpose of adding NaCl in step 6?

PROCEDRE I.Plare Sg bonzow aad and Ki.5L of methanol in 125mL roundtottan flask, cool in ice, por 1.5mL conc. H2SO4 down walls and swirl to mix 2. Attoch refiux condenser, add boiling chip, refux for I har 3. Cool soluhondecant into separatary fumel witn 25mL water, inse with 17 tom etier 4. Add eher, shake funrel, drain off wate loyer 5. Washettef in furmel wth 15nL H2O,15NL of 0,SMNaHtCO3 to remace unreaced benzok aad. Shake funnel wilh release of pressie, dran off bicartomale laver intotealer 6. Wastu ehter laver with sat. NaCl, dy over CaCl2 in flask Aadd svffiuent pelle's 7. After 10mn, deeant dry elter solvhion into flask, wash pellets whin 5mL etherdeccont inu fassk 8. Renav eler va simple distllation or everpraction. Wen evaporation ceasa add 2.3g CaClz , heet for 5 more 9. Decant ino 50 -nt round totromed flask, attach stillead. dir out orduany widenser, isse it withat nater injacket und distil 10. Use fored 25mL Endenmeyer to collest mulenal at > laper Typial yedd is 79