The purpose of the experiment was to form pure triphenylmethanol through a multi-step synthesis. The first step was to convert the carboxylic acid (benzoic acid) into the ester (methyl benzoate) through a procedure called Fischer esterification. The second step was to prepare phenyl magnesium bromide, which is a Grignard reagent and to add it to the methyl benzoate. The third step was to isolate the final product (triphenylmethanol).

The mass of methyl benzoate collected was s 7.56 g and the percent yield was 68%

The mass of Triphenyl methanol collected was 3.01 g and the percent yield was 32%

Can we use triphenylmethanol or methyl benzoate as a precursor for future experiments?