Carboxylic Acids and Esters Flashcards
In water, how do Carboxylic acids dissociate and what is produced?
Carboxylic acids partially dissociate in water to produce a carboxylate ions and an H+ ion
Why does equilibrium lie to the left when Carboxylic acids dissociate?
Because most of the molecules don’t dissociate
What is produced when a Carboxylic Acid reacts with a carbonate (CO3 2-)?
A salt, carbon dioxide and water
What is the most common way to form esters?
By heating a Carboxylic Acid with an Alcohol in the presence of a strong Acid catalyst
Esters are polar liquids so lots of polar organic compounds will dissolve in them. They’ve also got quite low boiling points so they evaporate easily from mixtures. This makes them good solvents in what?
Glued and printing inks
What is another use for esters?
Plasticisers- they’re added to plastics during polymerisation to make the plastic more flexible. Over time the plasticiser molecules escape though and the plastic becomes brittle and stiff
How is hydrolysis sped up?
By using an Acid or an alkali
What does Acid hydrolysis split esters into?
An Acid and an Alcohol
What conditions are needed for Acid hydrolysis of esters?
Reflux with a dilute Acid
What does base hydrolysis of an Ester produce?
A carboxylate ion and an Alcohol
What conditions are needed for base hydrolysis of esters?
Reflux with a dilute alkali
What are fatty acids?
They are long chain Carboxylic acids
Animal fats are ______. What properties does this give them?
Animal fats have mainly saturated hydrocarbon chains- they fit neatly together, increasing the van der waals forces between them. This means you need a higher temperature to melt then, so they’re solid at Room temperature
Vegetable oils have ______ hydrocarbon chains. What properties does this give them?
Vegetable oils have unsaturated hydrocarbon chains- the double bonds mean the chains are bent and don’t pack together well, decreasing the van der Waals forces. So they’re easier to melt and are liquids at Room temperature
When vegetable oils and animal fats are hydrolysed with NaOH, what is produced?
A soap
