Carboxylic Acids and its Derivatives Flashcards
Functional group of carboxylic acids
RCOOH.
C=O and C-OH
Why are the intermolecular forces between carboxylic acid molecules relatively strong
Due to the presence of two polar groups, C=O and C-OH
Why do carboxylic acids have a higher boiling point than alcohols
Each carboxylic acid molecule can form 2 hydrogen bonds but each alcohol molecule can only form one. More energy is needed to break the hydrogen bonds between carboxylic acid molecules.
Why are some carboxylic acid molecules soluble in water
They can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules because it has a polar -COOH group. The -COOH group can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. ONLY CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 1 to 4 are soluble
Why is benzoic acid only slightly soluble in water
The -COOH group can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. However, it is only slightly soluble because the benzene ring is non-polar
Describe the reaction, conditions and reagents needed to go from a nitrile to a carboxylic acid
Reaction : Acid hydrolysis
Reagent : Dilute HCl
Conditions : Heat under reflux
nitrile + water + hydrochloric acid =
Carboxylic acid + ammonium chloride
Are carboxylic acids strong or weak acids
Weak. They only partially dissociate in solution
How are carboxylate salts produced
Acid-base reactions
ethanoic acid + NaOH ——–>
CH3-COO-Na+ + H2O
What are the reagents and conditions for acid-base reactions in the production of carboxylate salts
Reagent : AQEUOUS sodium carbonate/hydroxide
Conditions : Room temperature
propanoic acid + sodium carbonate =
sodium propanoate + water + carbon dioxide
What is the test for the -COOH group
Add aqueous sodium carbonate to the compound. Bubble the gas produced into limewater. Fizzing/effervescence is observed. The colourless gas (CO2) turns limewater cloudy
Describe esterification
When a carboxylic acid is heater under reflux with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst such as conc sulfuric acid, an ester is formed
What do carboxylic acids do to carbonates even though they are weak acids
They liberate the CO2 from carbonates.
What type of reaction is it when esters are formed from the reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols
Reversible reaction
Why is the yield of esters low when produced from reacting carboxylic acids and alcohols
It is a reversible reaction and results in an equilibrium therefore low yield
Reagents and conditions for esterification
Reagents: Alcohol and concentrated sulfuric acid
Conditions : Heat under reflux
How to draw esters
Break the -OH off the carboxylic acid
Break the H off the -OH on the alcohol
Connect the O of the alcohol to the main C of the carboxylic acid.
How to name esters
The alcohol part first and then the carboxylic acid part.
e,g, propyl ethanoate
Functions of concentrated sulphuric acid in esterification
Acts as the catalyst for the reaction
Absorbs the water formed, driving the equilibrium to the right and increasing the yield of the ester
Functional group for esters
-COOR
There is a C=O and and -OR attached to the same carbon
Common uses of esters
In solvents
Plasticisers
Perfumes
Food flavourings
Main use of polyesters
Clothing
How can esters be produced by acyl chlorides
When acyl chloride reacts with an alcohol at room temperature an ester and HCl is formed.
This reaction is called Nucleophilic addition-elimination
What is the advantage of making esters by reacting an acyl chloride with alcohol
The reaction goes to completion giving a higher yield of the ester
What is produced in the acid hydrolysis of esters
A carboxylic acid and an alcohol
Conditions and reagents for acid hydrolysis of esters
Conditions : Heat under reflux
Reagent: dilute HCl/H2SO4 - acts as catalyst
ester + water ———->
<———-
Carboxylic acid + alcohol
Describe what happens in acid hydrolysis of esters
Ester is heated with dilute HCl
C-O bond in ester is broken using water
Carboxylic acid and alcohol produced
Describe what happens in alkaline hydrolysis of water
Ester is heated with aqueous NaOH/KOH
A carboxylate salt and an alcohol are formed
Advantages of alkaline hydrolysis of esters
Reaction goes to completion giving a higher yield
Products are easier to separate. Alcohol formed can be distilled off.
ester + NaOH/base ——->
carboxylate salt + alcohol
How are soaps made
By the alkaline hydrolysis of fats and oils. Saponification
The sodium salts of the carboxylic acid and the alcohol, glycerol, are formed
Trigylceride + NaOH =
Soap + glycerol
What is the chemical name for glycerol
propane-1,2,3-triol
What are the esters of glycerol / propane-1,2,3-triol
Vegetable oils and animal fats
How do vegetable oils and animals fats produce soaps and glycerol
Through alkaline hydrolysis
What is biodiesal
A mixture of methyl esters of long-chain carboxylic acids
How is biodiesel produced
By reaction vegetable oils with methanol in the presence of a catalyst. This forms propan-1,2,3-triol and biodiesal
Describe esterification of acid anhydrides with alcohols
The bottom part of the acid anhydride which looks like a carboxylic acid (RCOO) breaks off. The H of the alcohol also breaks off.
This forms an ester and carboxylic acid
What is formed when a carboxylic acid is heated under reflux with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst
An ester
How can we tell if an ester is formed
A fruity smell
How would you convert ethanoic acid into propyl ethanoate
Heat under reflux ethanoic acid with propan-1-ol and concentrated sulfuric acid as the catalyst
Do esters have hydrogen bonding
Not between esters but can form hydrogen bonds with water
Explain why the ester methyl methanoate has a much lower boiling point than its isomer ethanoic acid and why ethanoic acid has a lower boiling point than propanoic acid.
There are hydrogen bonds between molecules of ethanoic acid because it has a polar -COOH group. The ester cannot form hydrogen bonds and has weaker permanent dipole-dipole interactions and Van der Waals forces between its molecules. Less energy is needed to break the weaker intermolecular forces in the ester.
Ethanoic acid has fewer electrosn than propanoic acid, so the Van der Waals forces between molecules of ethanoic acid are weaker. Less energy is needed to break the weaker intermolecular forces in ethanoic acid.
What are esters isomeric with
Carboxylic acids
Suggest 3 hazards that could occur when using propanoyl chloride to make the ester and describe how you would minimise this risk
Propanoyl chloride is toxic, use a fume cupboard
Hydrogen chloride is formed which is toxic, use a fume cupboard
Propanoyl chloride is corrosive, wear gloves when handling
What happens in the hydrolysis of esters
The C-O bond in ester is broken using water
Typical acid hydrolysis of esters reaction
Ester + water ⇌ Carboxylic acid + alcohol
Heated with dilute HCL/ dilute H2SO4
Condition for acid hydrolysis of esters
Heat under reflux
Typical alkaline hydrolysis of esters reaction
Ester + NaOH/KOH ——-> Carboxylate salt + alcohol
Advantages of alkaline hydrolysis of esters
Reaction goes to completion giving a higher yield
The products are easier to separate. The alcohol can be distilled off
What happens in trans-esterification
A trigylceride/ tri-ester reacts with an alcohol to form ester + glycerol
The ester is then used as biodiesal
Triglyceride + NaOH ——–>
soap + glycerol
Triglyceride + alcohol (methanol)
biodiesal + glycerol
Functional group of acyl chlorides
COCl.
The C=O bond is a double bond
How to name acyl chlorides
-oyl chloride
Name CH3COCl
Ethanoyl chloride
Why do acyl chlorides get attacked by nucleophiles
The carbonyl carbon in an acyl chloride is very delta positive because the chlorine atom and oxygen is highly electronegative.
What are typical reaction of acyl chlorides called
Nucleophilic addition-elimination reactions
Hazards when using acyl chlorides and how to minimise
They are toxic so use a fume cupboard
They are corrosive so wear gloves when handling
Acyl chloride + water =
Carboxylic acid + HCl
white fumes of hydrogen chloride gas seen
Acyl chloride + alcohol/phenols =
Ester + HCl
Acyl chloride + concentrated ammonia
amide + NH4Cl
Acyl chloride + primary amines =
N-substituted amide + HCl
Conditions for all acyl chloride reactions
Room temperature
How do acid anhydrides react
In the same way as acyl chlorides but not as vigorously
Conditions for acid anhydrides reactions
Heat under reflux
What do acid anhydrides look like
CH3C(O)OCH3C(O)
2 C=O bonds
like a reflection about the central oxygen atom
Acid anhydride + water =
Carboxylic acid
Acid anhydride + alcohol =
Ester + carboxylic acid
Acid anhydride + ammonia =
Primary amide + ammonium carboxylate
Acid anhydride + primary amines =
N-substituted primary amine + ion mix
What are the industrial advantages of ethanoic anhydride over ethanoyl chloride in the manufacture of the drug aspirin
It is cheaper
Less corrosive
Less vulnerable to hydrolysis
Less dangerous to use
Suggest why chloroethanoic acid is a stronger acid than ethanoic acid.
Cl is an electron withdrawing group or negative inductive effect
Stabilises/reduces charge on COO-
Weakens the O-H bond / increase polarity of O-H bond