Organic chemistry Flashcards
what is an alkane
no double bonds
only contains carbon and hydrogen
alkene
contains a double bond
only contains hydrogen and carbon
what is an alcohol
contains at least in OH
what is a carboxylic acid
contains the COOH functional group
describe the bonding of the COOH functional group
in a carboxylic acid
the carbon is double bonded to one oxygen
and single bonded to the other
and the second oxygen is bonded to a hydrogen
the carbon is then bonded to either a hydrogen if methanoic or another carbon is aything else
how do you make a carboxylic acid
alcohol is heated under reflux with an oxidising agent (acidified potassium dichromate which is K2Cr2O7 and is orange)
once the oxidations has occured then it will turn green
what is an oxidising agent
a substance that in a redox chemical reaction receives and electron from a reducing agent
it oxidises another substance
describe a way to make ethanoic acid
add hot water to a beaker
put orange acidified potassium dichromate in a boiling tube and put this in the beaker
add a couple drops of ethanol
should change to green due to oxidation reaction
what is the word equation of making propanoic acid
propanol + oxygen -> propanoic acid + water
what is the equation for making an ester
carboxylic acid + alcohol <-> ester + water (strong acid catalyst)
what is the structure of an ester
one carbon chain with the last carbon bonded like a carboxylic acid ( double bond to one oxygen and a single bond to another) except for the single bonded oxygen instead of being bonded to a hydrogen it is bonded to another carbon chain
how is an ester named
esters are named by joining the acid name with the alcohol name with the alcohol coming first
eg ethanol + butanoic acid <-> ethyl butanoate + water
what are the properties of esters
sweet / fruity smell
used in perfumes
volatile (evaporate easily)
how to make an ester
mix equal volumes of alcohol and carboxylic acid together in a beaker
add a few drops of a strong acid catalyst (sulphuric acid)
heat to 80 degrees for 5 minutes
add sodium carbonate to remove excess acid this makes sodium sulphate which is soluble as well as carbon dioxide and water
what is the functional group of an ester
COO
