1.8 Carboxylic Acids Flashcards
Give the general formula of a carboxylic acid
CnH2nO2
give the functional group of a carboxylic acid, its name, and the name of the groups that constitute it
-COOH = carboxyl C=O = carbonyl -OH = hydroxyl
name some derivatives of carboxylic acids and their general formulae
acyl chlorides RCOCl
esters RCOOR’
amides RCONHR’
give the trivial name for methanoic acid
formic acid
give the trivial name for ethanoic acid
acetic acid
give the trivial name for benzenecarboxylic acid
benzoic acid
Describe the order of boiling points wrt similar alkanes, alcohols and carboxylic acids
- alkanes have lowest bps - only van der waals forces
- alcohols higher than alkanes - hydrogen bonds and VdW
- carboxylic acids highest b[ due to ability to dimerise
describe the process of dimerisation and how this can increase the boiling point of a carboxylic acid
- In glacial (pure) carboxylic acids, intermolecular hydrogen bonding will occur between two molecules of an acid to form a dimer (ie Slightly +ve H in -OH bonds to slightly -ve O in C=O)
- This doubles the size of the molecule, so increasing VdW’s force, resulting in a high bp
besides dimerisation, describe two other things that will affect the boiling point of a carboxylic acid
- As size increases, boiling point increases (due to increased VdW)
- Greater branching leads to a lower boiling point
Describe the solubility of a carboxylic acid
- In the presence of water, carboxylic acids will NOT dimerise with each other.
- Instead, hydrogen bonds will be formed between water molecules and individual molecules of acid.
- Carboxylic acids with up to four carbon atoms will mix with water in any proportion.
- Solubility decreases rapidly with size. This is because the larger hydrocarbon ‘tails’ get between water molecules and break hydrogen bonds. Therefore the broken H bonds will be replaced with weaker VdW forces.
- When you mix the two, the energy released when the new H bonds form is the same as is needed to break the H bonds in the pure liquids.
give the acid dissociation equilibrium equation for a general carboxylic acid
Ka = [RCOO- ][H+ ]
RCOOH
Name some ways in which a carboxylic acid can be prepared
- oxidation of a primary alcohol
- oxidation of an aldehyde
- acid and base catalysed ester hydrolysis
- hydrolysis of a nitrile
describe the practical oxidation of a primary alcohol to form a carboxylic acid
RCH2OH + 2[O] -> RCOOH + H2O
Reagent: acidified K2Cr2O7 or KMnO4
Conditions: reflux under heat
describe the practical oxidation of an aldehyde to form a carboxylic acid
RCHO + [O] -> RCOOH
Reagent: acidified K2Cr2O7 or KMnO4
Conditions: reflux under heat
how are esters formed?
during the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Give the general reversible reaction for esterification
RCOOH + R’OH RCOOR’ + H2O
is it more efficient to use acid or base catalysed hydrolysis to form an ester?
Base catalysed hydrolysis is more efficient
Acid catalysed hydrolysis forms an equilibrium so the yield is low. Base catalysed hydrolysis is not reversible
give the overall equation for base catalysed hydrolysis of an ester
CH3COOC2H5 + NaOH -> CH3COONa -> CH3CH2OH