Polymers and Life

Question 1

What is a zwitterion?

Answer 1

A dipolar ion with both positive and negative charge on each side of the molecule

Question 2

What observations can be made when reacting the following with carbonates:
carboxylic acids
phenols
alcohols

Answer 2

Carboxylic acids will fizz when reacted with carbonates as CO2 is formed
Phenols and alcohols are not acidic enough to react with carbonates, no observations will be made

Question 3

How do carboxylic acids, phenols and alcohols react with metals, what kind of reaction is this?

Answer 3

They all form salts in a redox reaction

Question 4

What reagents and conditions are used for esterification in what kind of reaction?

Answer 4

Esters are formed in a condensation reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols using reflux with concentrated H2SO4/HCl

Question 5

What ester is formed when reacting ethanol and propanoic acid?

Answer 5

Ethyl propanoate

Question 6

What ester is formed when reacting phenol and benzoic acid?

Answer 6

Phenyl benzoate

Question 7

What reactants are used when producing a polyester?

Answer 7

Diol and dicarboxylic acid

Question 8

How are esters made from phenols?

Answer 8

-OH in phenols are less reactive than in alcohols so require acid anhydrides to form an ester

Question 9

How are lower primary amines named?

Answer 9

A prefix to amine is used, e.g. methylamine, propylamine

Question 10

How are higher amines named?

Answer 10

A prefix amino- is used, e.g. CH3CH(NH2)CH3 is 2-aminopropane

Question 11

Are amines soluble in polar solvents (water), why/why not?

Answer 11

Amines are soluble in polar solvents as lone pair of electrons on nitrogen can form hydrogen bonds with water

Question 12

Are amines acidic or basic? Why?

Answer 12

Amines are basic as the lone pair on the nitrogen can form dative bonds with an H+ ion, thus being a proton acceptor (base)