Esters Flashcards

1
Q

what are esters?

A

a family of organic molecules which form when a carboxylic acid and alcohol join together by losing a water molecule

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2
Q

when drawing esters where does the ester functional group (-COO-) go?

A
  • it sits between two carbon chains, joining them together
  • it doesn’t matter what the other carbon chains look like, so they are represented by question marks in a diagram
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3
Q

when is the ester formed when ethanoic acid and ethanol react?

A

ethyl ethanoate

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4
Q

what is the reaction between ethanoic acid and ethanol called?

A

condensation - because of the production of water vapour

(sometimes it is called esterification because it makes an ester)

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5
Q

how to make an ester

A

to prepare an ester, you would:

  1. mix the carboxylic acid and alcohol together
  2. add a few drops of concentration sulfuric acid - this acts as a catalyst for the reaction
  3. warm it for a whole
  4. tip the mixture into sodium carbonate solution - this neutralises the sulfuric acid catalyst, which is otherwise really corrosive (the reaction produces carbon dioxide so you wait until the fizzing has stopped)
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6
Q

what are esters used for and why?

A

esters are volatile compounds with distinctive smells that make them suitable for use in food flavourings and perfumes

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7
Q

how do you choose the correct carboxylic acid and alcohol to make a particular ester?

A

you draw it and then split it down the middle where the oxygen atom is in line with the carbon chain

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