Carbonyl Compounds (Aldehydes and Ketones), Carboxylic Acids and Esters

Question 1

What catalyst is used in the synthesis of an ester from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol?

Answer 1

H2SO4
Sulphuric acid (strong acid)

Question 2

In the reduction equation to synthesise an alcohol from an aldehyde or ketone, give two examples of how you show the reducing agent? (conditions for the reduction reaction)

Answer 2

LiAlH4 (Lithium aluminium hydride) above the arrow

OR

NaBH4 (Sodium borohydride) above the arrow

Question 3

If we oxidise a secondary alcohol, what kind of carbonyl compound is synthesised?

Answer 3

Always a KETONE

because the hydroxyl group can never be at a terminal carbon, therefore the new C=O bond won’t be either!

Question 4

What name is given to the reaction where alcohols (primary & secondary) are synthesised from aldehydes and ketones?

Answer 4

Reduction reactions

think of it as the gain of hydrogens

Question 5

Using oxidation of a primary alcohol, what can we synthesise from the aldehyde formed?

Answer 5

Further oxidation (using an oxidising agent in acidic solution) synthesises a 
CARBOXYLIC ACID

Question 6

Name two ways to synthesise aldehydes and ketones…

Answer 6

Oxidation of alcohols

AND

Hydration of alkynes
(react with H2O in the presence of an acid catalyst)

Question 7

What kind of carbonyl compound will be synthesised by the oxidation of a primary alcohol?

Answer 7

Always an ALDEHYDE

because the hydroxyl O-H group is always on a terminal carbon, therefore the new C=O bond will be too!

Question 8

Summarise the functional group found in a carboxylic acid…

Answer 8

-COOH

The carbon bonded to a carbonyl group is also bonded to a hydroxyl group

Question 9

Name the type of reaction that esterification is, and give a definition…

Answer 9

Condensation reaction

The formation of one molecule (e.g. an ester) by joining two organic molecules together and eliminating a small/ non-organic molecule (usually H2O)

Question 10

Name the reaction by which we can synthesise aldehydes and ketones from alcohols…

Answer 10

Oxidation

Question 11

Give two acidic catalysts we could use in the hydrolysis of an ester…

Answer 11

HCl (aq)
Dilute hydrochloric acid in aqueous solution)

AND

H2SO4 (aq)
Dilute sulphuric acid in aqueous solution

Question 12

Give a suitable basic/alkaline catalyst for the hydrolysis of an ester…

Answer 12

NaOH (aq)

Sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution

Question 13

What is another name for esters?

Answer 13

Alkyl alkanoates

Question 14

What type of products form from the hydrolysis of an ester using a basic/alkaline catalyst?

Answer 14

A carboxylate salt
(The charged salt of the ‘carboxylic acid’ part of the ester)

The ‘parent’ alcohol

Question 15

Name the reaction by which we form a (parent) alcohol and acid from an ester…

Answer 15

Hydrolysis