Properties of Carboxylic Acids Flashcards
what types of bonds are in carboxylic acids?
- hydrogen bonding between the C=O and C-H bonds
- these bonds are polar so can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules
what is the limit for the number of carbon atoms in a carboxylic acid until it’s insoluble in water?
- carboxylic acids with up to 4 carbon atoms are soluble in water
what happens to the solubility of carboxylic acids as the number of carbon atoms increases?
- as the number of carbon atoms increases, the solubility decreases in polar solvents and increases in non-polar solvents
why does solubility of carboxylic acids in non polar solvents increase as the number of carbon atoms increase?
- non-polar carbon chain has a greater effect on the overall polarity of the molecule
what is the state of dicarboxylic acids?
- solids at room temperature, and they dissolve readily in water
as the number of carbon atoms increases what bond has more of an effect?
- London forces are stronger than hydrogen bonds
what type of acids are carboxylic acids?
- weak acids
- partially dissociates in aqueous solutions
what are the types of reactions that carboxylic acids can take part in?
- redox reactions with metals
- neutralisation reactions with bases (alkalis, metal oxides and carbonates)
what happens when carboxylic acids react in redox and neutralisation reaction?
- carboxylic acids form carboxylate salts
what is formed when carboxylic acids react with metals in a redox reaction?
- hydrogen gas is formed and the carboxylate salt
what happens during the reaction of carboxylic acids and metals in redox reactions?(observations)
- metal disappears
- effervescence
what type of acids are carboxylic acids?
weak acids, so partially dissociate
what are the bases that carboxylic acids react with?
- metal oxides
- alkalis
- carbonates
what is formed when carboxylic acids react with metal oxides?
- salt (carboxylate)
- water
what is formed when carboxylic acids react with alkalis?
- carboxylate salt
- water
