17: Chirality and Carbonyls Flashcards
Define optical isomers
Isomers of which one is the non-superimposable mirror image of the other
What is chirality caused by?
A carbon with 4 different groups attached to it
Called a chiral centre
What are optical isomers known as?
Enantiomers
Why are chiral molecules known as optical isomers?
The isomer can rotate the plane of polarisation of plane-polarised monochromatic light
Define a racemic mixture
A solution containing equal amounts of 2 isomers
Does not rotate plane of plane-polarised monochromatic light
Compare and contrast enantiomers
Identical physical and chemical properties
React differently with plane-polarised light
What is the structure of an aldehyde functional group?
Carbon bonded to a H, double bond O, and a R group
Found on the end of a chain
What is the structure of a ketone functional group?
Carbon with a double O bond, and two R groups
Found in the middle of a carbon chain
What is significant about a carbon oxygen double bond?
Oxygen is more electronegative, causes a polar bond
Why can aldehydes and ketones not hydrogen bond with each other?
No hydrogen atoms bonded to the oxygen atoms
Are ketones and aldehydes soluble in water?
Small aldehydes and ketones are soluble in water
Solubility decreases as carbon chain increases
Why are only small carbonyls soluble in water?
They can hydrogen bond with water molecules
Hydrocarbon tails are hydrophobic
Solubility breaks hydrogen bonding in water, and if they are not replaced by strong inter molecular bonds then it will be insoluble
Hydrocarbon chains only have id-id so the longer, the less soluble
What is the main form of reactions carbonyls undergo and why?
Nucleophillic addition
Condensation
Due to 𝛿+ carbon atom attracting nucleophiles
What is the test for a carbonyl group?
Adding 2,4-DNP
Forms yellow crystals (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone crystals)
Condensation reaction
What are the 3 oxidation tests for aldehydes (not ketones)?
Tollens reagent - ammonial silver nitrate
Fehlings solution - copper 2+ ions
Acidified dichromate - H+/Cr2O7 2-
Why are oxidation tests used to test for aldehydes not ketones?
Aldehydes can be further oxides ex to carboxylic acids
Ketones cannot be futher oxidised
How is tollens reagent formed?
Ag+ + 2NH3 -> Ag[NH3]2 +
What are the half equations for the tollens reagent in presence of an aldehyde?
R-CHO + H2O -> R-COOH + 2e + 2H+
Ag+ + e -> Ag
Combined:
R-CHO + H2O + 2Ag+ -> R-COOH + 2Ag + 2H+
What is observed in the Tollens reagent test in the presence of an aldehyde?
A silver mirror will form on the inside of the test tube
What is in fehlings solution?
Solution of Cu2+ ions
What is reduced in the Fehlings test?
Cu2+ -> Cu+
What are the half equations for the Fehlings test?
R-CHO + H2O -> R-COOH + 2e + 2H+
2Cu2+ + H2O + 2e -> Cu2O + 2H+
Combined:
R-CHO + 2H2O + 2Cu -> R-COOH + Cu2O+ 4H+
What is the colour change if acidified potassium dichromate is in solution with an aldehyde?
Orange to green
What is the change in oxidation state when potassium dichromate is oxidised?
Cr6+ -> Cr3+
What is the half equation for potassium dichromate reacting with an aldehyde?
Cr2O7 2- + 14H+ + 6e -> 2Cr 3+ + 7H2O
R-CHO + H2O -> R-COOH + 2e + 2H+
Combined:
3R-CHO + Cr2O7 2- + 8H+ -> 3R-COOH + 2H2O + 2Cr 3+
How does the increase of chain length effect the oxidation of an aldehyde?
Slower they react
The aldehydes have less reducing power
Why do ketones not give a positive result in reducing tests?
They cannot be oxidised easily
What is the iodoform (triiodomethane) test?
Tests for the methyl carbonyl and methyl OH groups