Carboxylic Acids and Esters Flashcards
How do you name carboxylic acids?
-oic acid
Are carboxylic acids soluble in water? Why? What influences their solubility?
Yes. Acid group can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
What are the intermolecular forces in carboxylic acids?
Hydrogen bonds in solid state — very strong
What are esters?
Formed from carboxylic acids and alcohols.
How do you name esters?
Start with the alcohol group that has replaced the hydrogen, then acid part
What characteristic physical properties do esters have?
Volatile, pleasant fruity smells
What are some uses of esters?
Flavourings, perfumes (both longer chains), solvents (short chains), plasticisers.
How could you distinguish carboxylic acids from other -OH containing compounds?
Add NaHCO3, acids will produce sodium salt, water and CO2
What catalyst is needed for the formation of esters from alcohols and carboxylic acids?
Concentrated strong acid (H2SO4)
What catalyst is needed for the hydrolysis of esters?
Dilute strong acid (H2SO4)
What is an alternative method of hydrolysis?
Base hydrolysis
What are the advantages of base hydrolysis?
Reaction goes to completion due to neutralisation by base — more product in the mixture than acid catalysed hydrolysis.
What are carboxylic acids derivatives?
Molecules that have the acyl group as part of their structure, formed from carboxylic acids.
Name two carboxylic acids derivatives and give their functional groups.
Acyl chlorides: RCOCl
Acid Anhydrides: RCOOCR / (RCO)2O
How do you form an acyl chloride?
React a carboxylic acids with SOCl2
If the nucleophile is ammonia for the acylation of acyl chlorides or acid anhydrides, what are the products of the reaction?
An amide
If the nucleophile is a primary amine, what are the products of the acylation of acyl chlorides or acid anhydrides?
N-substituted amide
If the nucleophile is an alcohol, what are the products of the acylation of acyl chlorides or acid anhydrides?
An ester
If the nucleophile is water, what are the products of the acylation of acyl chlorides or acid anhydrides?
Carboxylic acid (hydrolysis produces ester linkage)
What is the name of this reaction (the acylation of acyl chlorides/ acid anhydrides with water as a nucleophile)?
hydrolysis
