Alcohols And Carboxylic Acids Flashcards
What defines an alcohol in organic chemistry?
An alcohol is an organic compound that contains one or more hydroxyl (–OH) groups attached to a carbon atom.
What is the general formula for an alcohol?
For a simple alcohol, the general formula is CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH.
How are alcohols named according to IUPAC rules?
Alcohols are named by replacing the –e ending of the corresponding alkane with –ol and indicating the position of the –OH group if necessary.
What are carboxylic acids?
Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a carboxyl (–COOH) functional group.
“What is the general formula for a carboxylic acid?”
The general formula is CₙH₂ₙO₂ (for monocarboxylic acids) or more generally R–COOH.
How are carboxylic acids named using IUPAC nomenclature?
They are named by replacing the –e ending of the parent alkane with –oic acid and numbering the carbon chain to give the –COOH group the lowest possible number.
Compare the functional groups of alcohols and carboxylic acids.
Alcohols have an –OH group, while carboxylic acids contain a –COOH group, which is more acidic due to the resonance stabilization of the carboxylate ion.
How does the acidity of carboxylic acids compare to that of alcohols?
Carboxylic acids are significantly more acidic than alcohols because the negative charge on the carboxylate ion is delocalized through resonance.
What is an esterification reaction?
Esterification is a chemical reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid to form an ester and water.
Write the general equation for esterification.
R–COOH + R’–OH ⇌ R–COOR’ + H₂O.
What role does a catalyst play in esterification?
An acid catalyst (often concentrated H₂SO₄) is used to speed up the esterification reaction by protonating the carbonyl oxygen, increasing its electrophilicity.
How do alcohols undergo oxidation?
Primary alcohols can be oxidized to aldehydes and then carboxylic acids, while secondary alcohols are oxidized to ketones. Tertiary alcohols are resistant to oxidation without breaking carbon–carbon bonds.
What reagents are commonly used for the oxidation of primary alcohols?
Reagents such as potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) or PCC (pyridinium chlorochromate) are often used for controlled oxidation.
How does the oxidation of secondary alcohols differ from primary alcohols?
Secondary alcohols typically oxidize directly to ketones without forming an intermediate aldehyde.
What is a dehydration reaction in alcohols?
Dehydration is a reaction in which an alcohol loses a molecule of water to form an alkene.
Describe the physical properties of alcohols.
Alcohols are typically polar, have higher boiling points than alkanes of similar molecular weight, and can engage in hydrogen bonding.
How does hydrogen bonding affect the properties of alcohols?
Hydrogen bonding increases the boiling points and solubility of alcohols in water.
Why are carboxylic acids important in biochemistry?
They are key components in many biomolecules, including amino acids and fatty acids, and play crucial roles in metabolic pathways.
How do carboxylic acids form salts?
Carboxylic acids react with bases to form carboxylate salts and water.
What is decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is the process by which a carboxyl group is removed from a molecule, releasing carbon dioxide.
Describe nucleophilic acyl substitution in carboxylic acid derivatives.
It is a mechanism in which a nucleophile attacks the electrophilic carbonyl carbon, replacing the leaving group and forming a new derivative.
What are common methods for synthesizing carboxylic acids?
They can be synthesized via oxidation of aldehydes or primary alcohols, hydrolysis of nitriles, or carbonylation reactions.
How do substituents affect the acidity of carboxylic acids?
Electron-withdrawing groups increase acidity by stabilizing the negative charge on the carboxylate ion, while electron-donating groups decrease acidity.
Compare the boiling points of alcohols and carboxylic acids.
Carboxylic acids generally have higher boiling points than alcohols of similar molecular weight due to stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonding (often forming dimers).
Why are functional groups important in determining the reactivity of organic molecules?
Functional groups dictate the chemical behavior of molecules by influencing electron distribution, polarity, and the types of reactions the molecule can undergo.
