Chapter 26 Flashcards
what are CAs?
weak organic acids
why are short alkyl chain CAs more soluble?
- CAs with short alkyl chains are very soluble because they can form H bonds
- As the chains of non polar hydrocarbon attached to the CA gets longer, solubility decreases
Carboxylate ions?
Carboxylic acids form carboxylate ions when they lose the H off the COOH
how do CAs react?
Weak acids, so react in all the usual acid reactions, just at a much slower rate than strong ones.
what is esterification?
- CA and alcohol are combined forming an ester and water- esterification
- Alcohol loses the OH, CA loses the H to form H2O - reaction sometimes referred to as a Condensation reaction
- The reaction is reversible and has a very slow rate
if making large esters?
If making large esters, need to heat the reaction mixture under reflux
why can esters be separated from the mixture using fractional distillation?
Esters are volatile and therefore can be separated from the reaction mixture by fractional distillation
how to tell which side of the ester if from the CA?
The side of the ester that is from the CA always has the C=O
Using alcohols and CAs isn’t the only way to make esters?
- can also using acid anhydrides
acid anhydrides are made from?
2 CA mols, called anhydride bc reaction removes water
what do acid anhydrides do?
Anhydrides react with alcohols in a non reversible reaction to form esters - reaction is slow but can be sped up by warming
alkaline hydrolysis is?
Alkaline hydrolysis is irreversible
