synthetic routes

Question 1

how would you identify a carboxylic acid?

Answer 1

have a pH of around 3 so would turn universal indicator orange/red

react with carbonates to form a salt, water, and carbon dioxide. to confirm C02 is produced it can be bubbled through limewater and turn it cloudy

Question 2

identifying alcohols

Answer 2

1) heated with acidified potassium dichromate (VI)

tertiary alcohol = no change

primary/secondary = oragne to green (Cr2O7(2-) to Cr(3+))

tollens reagent can be used to distinguish between aldehyde and ketone

Question 3

identifying aldehydes and ketones

Answer 3

tollen’s reagent:
tollens reagent is a solution of silver nitrate in aqueous ammonia.
aldehyes reduce these silver ions to silver atoms
a silver mirror is produced inside the test tube for aldehydes but no change for ketones

acidified potassoim dichromate:
aldehydes reduce the orange Cr2O7(2-) ions to green Cr(3+) ions
there is no change for ketones