Esters Flashcards
What are esters
Family of organic compounds formed when an alcohol reacts with a Carboxylic acid
What does an ester identify as
-Oate
Esters are produced when an alcohol and a Carboxylic acid are reacted together in a
Condensation reaction
What is a condensation reaction
When two molecules join together with the elimination of a small molecule, usually water
What’s another name for the formation of an ester
Esterfication
Condensation and dehydration reactions can be often confused due to what
Water being a product in both
In a condensation reaction the water molecules is removed from
2 molecules
Where as dehydration reactions can be the water is removed from only
One molecules
Esters can be produced by
Using condensation reaction
Whats the opposite of condensation
Hydrolysis and this the process used to break an ester into an alcohol and a Carboxylic acid
What does this process involve
Heating the ester with water in the presence of a catalyst, usually acid or an alkali
Mistakes people consumed
Hydrolysis and hydration
Hydrolysis
Water breaks the molecules into 2 product molecules
Meanwhile hydration only does
1 product
Hydrolysis of esters
Water molecules attacks the ester linkage and breaks off the carbon to m oxygen single bond
Pt2
The OH bonds joins with the carbon atom atom in the breakage to generate Carboxylic group to form the Carboxylic acid product
Pt3
The remaining hydrogen atom from the water molecules joins with the oxygen atom from the breakage to form hydroxyl group of the alcohol
Uses of esters
Many esters have strong sweet smells and can be floral and fruity in taste
Due to these properties esters are commonly used as fragrances or as
Flavourings for food
Main use of esters
Industrial solvents as they aren’t very polar and can dissolve many substance that are insoluble in water
Esters tend to be what
Volatile as they have low boiling points which is useful for rapid evaporation
