Unit 2 Flashcards
Define the term functional group of a molecule?
The functional group of a molecule refers to the group of atoms or bonds that are responsible for the chemical reactivity of a molecule
State the functional group that is responsible for the reactivity of the alkanol homologous series (alcohols)?
The hydroxyl group is the functional group present in alcohols.
What rule must be followed when naming a compound that has a functional group?
When a chemical has a functional group this means that the functional group must be numbered the lowest possible number in the chain.
State some common uses of alcohols?
Alcohols have uses as fuels due to their ease of combustion and renewability
State some examples of uses of carboxylic acids?
Carboxylic acids can be commonly used as preservatives, they can be used to make soap and they have many uses in medicine.
State the functional group that can be found in the carboxylic acids?
The carboxylic acids have a Carboxyl functional group which is responsible for their chemical reactivity as a homologous series
Explain what is meant chemically by a salt?
A salt is the product of any reaction between any acid and any alkali, when an acid and an alkali react together this is called a neutralisation reaction and water is produced. Note that if a carboxylic acid is used then the salt’s name will end with ‘oate’
State the purpose of esters in nature?
Esters can be found in many fruits, vegetables and flowers. Esters give these substances flavour.
State some of the uses that we have for man made esters?
Esters can also be man made and used as artificial flavours, solvents for paints and varnishes, and as an ingredient for perfumes.
State the name of the type of reaction that is undergone to produce an ester?
Esters are produced in condensation reactions between alcohols and carboxylic acids. This type of condensation reaction could also perhaps be referred to as an esterification reaction.
Explain what is meant by a condensation reaction?
A condensation reaction is a reaction where two molecules combine together in order to form a larger molecule as well as the loss of a water molecule.
Can esterification (condensation) take place without the presence of a catalyst?
No, esterification requires the presence of a concentrated sulfuric acid catalyst as the reaction is reversible and the catalyst is good at absorbing the water produced by the esterification which by Le chatelier’s principle will prioritise the forwards reaction to take place.
How can we obtain the original alcohol and carboxylic acid used to prepare the ester?
To do this we can use a hydrolysis reaction to break down the ester into the components that make up the ester.
Explain what is meant by a hydrolysis reaction?
A hydrolysis reaction refers to a reaction in which a larger molecule reacts with water and is broken down into smaller molecules.
What are the rules that chemists use when they are naming an ester?
When naming an ester we must consider that each ester has two parts to its name. The first part of the esters name comes from the alcohol that was used to produce it and will end with the prefix ‘yl’
The second half of the esters name is derived from the carboxylic acid that was used to produce it and will end with the prefix ‘oate’.
Esters are named based on how many carbons are in each alcohol and carboxylic acid used in the condensation reaction e.g a reaction between ethanol and Butanoic acid would produce
Ethyl Butanoate.
State the functional group that can be found in all esters?
All esters contain a carboxylate functional group this carboxylate functional group is responsible for the chemical reactivity of the esters.
What is an alternative name given to the carboxylate functional group?
The carboxylate functional group can alternatively be called the ester link.
Explain what happens during a condensation reaction?
During a condensation reaction the hydroxyl group detaches from the carboxylic acid and the hydrogen molecule detaches from the alcohol and they will combine to form water and the remaining bonds in the carboxylic acid and water will then form the ester link (Carboxylate group)
Explain what happens during a condensation reaction?
During a condensation reaction the water molecules attack the carboxylate group (ester link) causing the carboxyl group and the hydroxyl group to reform. This breaks down the larger ester molecule into smaller molecules of alcohol and carboxylic acid.
What general rule can we use to identify the carboxylic acid and alcohol that would be produced when we hydrolyse an ester?
We can identify the carboxylic acid part as the side of the molecule that contains a double carbon to oxygen bond ( C=O )
State what type of molecules that fats and oils belong to?
Esters /triglycerides
Explain the reason why fats and oils are an essential part of our diets?
Fats and oils are an essential part of our diets as they are a concentrated source of energy
Give examples of the three main sources of fats and oils?
- Animal fats/oils
- Vegetable fats/oils
- Marine fats/oils
Since fats and oils are esters they have an alcohol part and a carboxylic acid part, what is the chemical name for the alcohol found in all fats and oils?
The alcohol that can be found in every fat or oil is called propan - 1,2,3 - triol. The short name for this molecule is glycerol. The molecule contains three hydroxyl groups hence the ‘triol’
State the name that is given to the carboxylic acids used to produce fats or oils?
Fatty acids is the name for the acids that are used to form fats and oils.
Explain why fats and acids may sometimes be referred to by the name of triglycerides?
Acids and alcohols are sometimes referred to as triglycerides as they contain one molecule in all of their structures and each fat or oil is also made of of three fatty acids.
Explain what is meant by a saturated fatty acid?
A saturated fatty acid is a fatty acid that has no C=C double bonds in its structure
Explain what is meant by a monounsaturated fatty acid?
A monounsaturated fatty acid is a fatty acid that contains only a single C=C double bond in its structure.
Explain what is meant by a polyunsaturated fatty acid?
A polyunsaturated fatty acid refers to a fatty acid that has many C=C bonds throughout its structure.
Explain why Fats are solids at room temperature?
Fats are molecules that tend to be saturated, this saturated structure means that fat molecules are tightly packed together. This increases the strength of the intermolecular forces involved in holding the fat molecules together increasing the melting and boiling point of the fats.
Explain why oils are liquids at room temperature?
Oils are liquids at room temperatures because oils tend to be more unsaturated than fats. The carbon to carbon double bonds that are present in the oils cause the carbon chains to kink. This kinking effect causes the molecule to be less tightly packed meaning that the strength of the intermolecular forces is weaker than in a fat. Hence the weaker intermolecular forces between molecules of oils lower the melting point and the boiling point of the oil.
Explain what is meant by a soap?
Soaps are sodium salts of fatty acids which are formed by the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil.
What must be present during the process of hydrolysing a fat or an oil to produce a soap?
A sodium alkali must be present such as sodium hydroxide that allows the alkaline hydrolysis to take place in which the carboxylic acids formed by hydrolysis will immediately undergo neutralisation with the alkali and produce the sodium salt known as soap, water will also be produced.
State the term commonly used to describe a reaction that yields soap?
Saponification
Explain why vegetable oil is said to be immiscible with water?
As vegetable oil does not mix with water and they will always seperate out into two distinct layers because of the intermolecular bonding involved in each of the molecules. Vegetable oils are esters and so they are nonpolar where water is a polar molecule hence the two liquids will not dissolve in one another.
Explain why water is ineffective at removing greece?
As most greece is a form of fat or oil and is nonpolar where water is a polar molecule. The van der waals forces involved in each of the molecules cause the liquids to be immiscible.
Explain what is meant by an emulsion?
An emulsion is a term used to describe how a liquid will be dispersed into another liquid.
What term can be used to describe the chemical role that soaps have when removing grease?
Soaps are described as Emulsifying agent or Emulsifiers
What is meant by the term emulsifying agent or emulsifier?
An Emulsifying agent is a term used to describe a chemical that stabilises emulsions and prevents them from separating out
Describe the head of a soap molecule?
The ionic head of a soap molecule is defined as being hydrophilic meaning water loving and will dissolve in the water