Carboxylic Acids And Esters. Flashcards
Why are carboxylic acids soluble in water? What happens when chain length increase?
As they form hydrogen bonds. They can also form hydrogen bonds between another carboxylic acid
Their solubility decreases since CH2 groups do not form hydrogen bonds with water and add bulk to the compound.
Do carboxylic acids have higher or lower boiling points than alcohols, aldehydes and ketones?
Higher because they can form hydrogen bonds between molecules, with both the C=O and O-H parts of the functional group.
Are carboxylic acids strong or weka acids?
Weak
What reaction will a carboxylic acid undergo with a base?
Neutralisation reaction to produce a salt.
What is the functional group of an ester?
-COO-
explain the esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols.
Requires strong acid catalyst ( e.g. concentrated H2SO4)
Reflux
Check pmt for equation
Explain the esterification of acid anhydrides with alcohols.
Addition-elimination reaction mechanism
Acid anhydrides react less vigorously than acrylic chlorides and do not produce toxic HCL as a side product.
What is ester hydrolysis?
reverse reaction to esterification
Converting esters back into alcohols and carboxylic acids
This process is done by adding water.
Carried out under different conditions to get different products.
If I want to form carboxylic acids and alcohols how would I hydrolyse esters?
In hot aqueous acid
If I want to form carboxylate salts and alcohols how would I hydrolyse esters?
In hot aqueous alkali
How are acyl chlorides formed?
CH3COOH + SOCl2 = CH3COCl + SO2 + HCl
What’s the functional group of an acyl chloride?
-COCl
Why are acyl chlorides reactive?
Because of the -COCL group
Reactions of acyl chlorides?
Water
Alcohol
Ammonia
Amines
Carboxylic acid
Ester
Amide
N-substituted Amide
Acyl chlorides can be used in the esterification. Of phenol, which is not readily esterified by carboxylic acids.
