Unit 2 - Nature's Chemistry Flashcards
What is an alcohol?
A molecule containing a hydroxyl functional group, -OH group.
What can alcohols be classified as?
Primary, secondary or tertiary.
What is a primary alcohol?
Alcohols where the carbon atom of the hydroxyl group is attached to only one single alkyl group.
What is a secondary alcohol?
Those where the carbon atom of the hydroxyl group is attached to two alkyl groups on either side. The two alkyl groups present may be
either structurally identical or even different.
What is a tertiary alcohol?
Those which feature a hydroxyl group attached to the carbon atom which is connected to 3-alkyl groups.
What is a diol?
Alcohols containing two hydroxyl groups
What is a triol?
Alcohols containing three hydroxyl groups.
Polarity and bonding of hydroxyl groups.
Hydroxyl groups make alcohols polar and this gives rise to hydrogen bonding.
What is a carboxylic acid?
A molecule containing the carboxyl functional group -COOH.
What do carboxylic acids react with?
Bases
What happens in redox reactions with carboxylic acids?
The H+ ions are displaced from solution by metals higher up in the electrochemical series.
What is an ester?
A molecule containing an ester link -COO-
How are esters named?
The alcohol molecule gives the ester the first part of its name.
The carboxylic acid molecule gives the ester its second name.
Examples of ester names:
Ethanol and Propanoic Acid = ethyl propanoate.
Butanoic Acid and Ethanol = ethyl butanoate.
Methanol and Methanoic Acid = methyl methanoate.
What are esters used as in industry?
flavourings, fragrances, solvents for non-polar solutes, nail varnish, evaporate easily (volatile).
How are esters formed?
When a carboxylic (alkanoic) acid molecule reacts with an alcohol (alkanol) molecule in a condensation or esterification reaction.
What is the catalyst for an ester?
Concentrated sulfuric acid
What is a condensation reaction?
A reaction where a molecule of water is eliminated as two molecules join. (esterification)
What is Hydrolysis?
The splitting of a molecule by reaction with water.
Is esterification a reversible or non-reversible reaction?
Reversible.